One woman was killed and nine others wounded in a shooting attack at the central bus station in Be'er Sheva, the Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service reported on Sunday.
Israel Border Police Cpl. Shira Chaya Suslik, 19, of Be'er Sheva succumbed to her injuries. The terrorist, later identified as a 29-year-old Israeli citizen with a criminal record from the Bedouin community in the Negev, was neutralized.
Shira is survived by her parents and three siblings. She joined the Border Police in January 2023. "She loved to dance ballet and have fun with friends, she always aspired to excellence and was an example to her friends," the Border Police said in a tribute to her.
Another two victims were in serious condition, four others with moderate injuries and two with minor injuries.
According to the initial details of the serious attack, the terrorist - a 29-year-old man from the Bedouin community in the Negev - arrived by bus at the station armed with a gun, and opened fire outside the McDonald's branch. Police Commissioner Danny Levy said in a statement he made at the scene that the terrorist was eliminated within three seconds by soldiers and members of the security forces who were on the scene.
The terrorist had a criminal record, and he comes from the extended family of the terrorist Mohand al-Ukabi, who in 2015 carried out an attack in the central station in Be'er Sheva in which Golani fighter Omri Levy was killed. Al-Ukabi reportedly was in contact with Hamas.
Southern District Commander, Chief Superintendent Amir Cohen, arrived at the scene for an assessment. The police said that numerous units, including police officers, SWAT teams, Border Police and volunteers, set up roadblocks and conducted searches to rule out fleeing suspects. They also emphasized that there is no indication of any further security incidents in the city.
Senior Magen David Adom paramedic Boris Manto said, "We arrived quickly in large numbers and saw a young woman lying unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing. We performed medical assessments, but her injuries were critical, and we sadly had to pronounce her dead at the scene."
He added, "There was a lot of chaos, with wounded people entering shops. In a sweep by MDA teams, we identified several other victims, all conscious and suffering from bodily injuries. We provided medical treatment, including stopping bleeding and administering pain relief, and transported them by MDA ambulances to hospitals in stable condition."
One eyewitness recounted, "We came to buy bus tickets and saw a crowd of people running and screaming, so we ran outside." Another witness added, "I heard a gunshot and screams. It started at McDonald's, and we were caught in the middle."
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