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January 1, 2016 9:41 am
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2 Dead, 7 Wounded in Likely Terror Shooting Spree in Tel Aviv; Killer Is Israeli-Arab (VIDEO)

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avatar by Ruthie Blum

The scene of Friday afternoon's shooting spree in Tel Aviv. Photo: Channel 2/screenshot.

The scene of Friday afternoon’s shooting spree in Tel Aviv. Photo: Channel 2/screenshot.

Two Israelis were killed, and seven others wounded, four critically and three moderately, in a terror shooting spree Friday afternoon in Tel Aviv, according to Hebrew press reports.

Though initial reports said there was more than one attacker who opened fire on and in the vicinity of “Hasimta,” a bar/restaurant located on the corner of Dizengoff and Gordon streets, police are now on a manhunt for a single suspected terrorist and possible accomplice or accomplices.

Israeli defense officials, cited in local media reports later on Friday, said the attacker is a 29-year-old Arab Israeli citizen from a village located near Haifa in the Wadi Ara area. He reportedly was motivated to carry out the attack by radical Islamist incitement. Police sources cited by Israeli TV said a copy of the Koran was found in a bag the killer left at the scene.

Security-camera footage published by Israeli newspapers shows the shooter — whose unmasked face is clearly visible — approaching the pub and looking inside, before aiming his automatic weapon and gunning people down in a cold, calculated manner. Some 30 shots are reported to have been fired by a Carl Gustav submachine gun.

The two victims were named Friday evening as Alon Bakal and Shimon Rawimi, The Times of Israel reported.

Security services have cordoned off the site of the attack, and are requesting that the public stay away, and those in the area to remain indoors, while the manhunt continues. The Shin Bet internal security services are assisting in the investigation.

The wounded have been evacuated to  Tel Aviv hospitals — Ichilov, Wolfson, Beilinson and Sheba/Tel Hashomer.

Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square has been appropriated as a station for dozens of police and other security vehicles.

Watch security camera footage of the shooting below:

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