Knife attack in Tel Aviv leaves four injured

Four people were injured in a knife attack in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Israel’s emergency services said.

Ichilov Hospital said it was treating three of the victims, including one in “a serious condition with a knife wound to the neck.” The attacker, a 28-year-old foreigner, was shot at the scene, police said.

Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency said it is conducting an investigation after the decision was made to allow the man, who reportedly had Moroccan citizenship and US permanent residency, to enter the country.

It is the second stabbing in Tel Aviv in four days, after another person was attacked on Saturday before being shot by an armed civilian.

Tuesday’s attack took place on Nahalat Binyamin Street, an area popular for its restaurants and nightlife, and on nearby Gruzenberg Street, where the attacker stabbed another person and was shot dead.

Israeli media reported that a US residence permit and a border control ticket were found on the attacker’s body.

He entered Israel with a tourist visa on January 18.

Border and immigration forces had raised objections to the man entering Israel while he was at Ben Gurion airport, but the Shin Bet security service approved his entry, Israel’s Interior Minister Moshe Arbel said.

“I call on Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to investigate the serious incident and draw lessons from it as soon as possible,” he added.

The Shin Bet responded: “Following the individual’s entry into Israel, a security assessment was carried out, including additional questioning and screening, which concluded that there were no grounds to deny him entry for security reasons. The incident will be investigated.” .

Hamas did not claim responsibility but in a statement praised the attack.