A policewoman has been killed and ten others were injured in a shooting in Beersheba, a southern Israeli city, in what local authorities are describing as a “suspected terror attack.” The incident took place at the central bus station, where security forces quickly shot and killed the gunman at the scene.
The police officer who lost her life has been identified as Sergeant Shira Chaya Suslik, a member of Israel’s border police force. In addition to the fatality, Israel’s ambulance service reported that ten other people were injured, some with gunshot wounds. One of the victims is said to be in a “moderate to serious” condition, while four others are in “moderate condition.” All of the injured have been transported to Soroka Hospital, which is located nearby.
Police reported that the gunman was neutralized “within a few seconds” by security personnel present at the scene. The attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism, and authorities have not released further details about the assailant.
In the wake of the shooting, Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev responded by calling for stronger deterrent measures, suggesting that the families of terrorists should be deported from the country. Posting on the social media platform X, she wrote, “The time has come for a deterrent punishment to prevent the attacks on Israeli territory.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid also condemned the incident, calling the attack “severe and despicable.” He emphasized that Israel must take strong actions to combat terrorism.
This attack follows a similar violent event in Tel Aviv just last week, where seven people were killed in a combined shooting and stabbing assault in the Jaffa area. The series of attacks has heightened tensions in Israel, especially as the country approaches the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7th of last year, an event that set off the ongoing Gaza war.
Israeli security forces are currently on high alert nationwide due to the looming anniversary, anticipating potential further attacks.
