2015 Beersheba bus station shooting

yes 2015 terrorist attack in Israel August 2017 Beersheba bus station shooting תחנה מרכזית באר שבע, מבט דרומה.JPG Israel gaza 31 14 33 34 47 48 The attack site the 2015–2016 wave of violence in Israeli-Palestinian conflict 2015 10 18 yes Beersheba, Israel הפיגוע בתחנה המרכזית של באר שבע (2015) heb 31 14 33 N 34 47 48 E inline,title Mass shooting Pistol, IMI Galil 3 (soldier, the perpetrator, civilian mistaken for second gunman) 11 Muhand al-Okabi On 18 October 2015, a gunman shot and killed 19-year-old Israeli soldier Omri Levy in a bus station in Beersheba. After killing the soldier, he took his automatic rifle and fired into a crowd. When more security officers appeared, the gunman fled, but was killed by security personnel. A 29-year-old Eritrean asylum seeker, Haftom Zarhum was mistaken for a second attacker. He was shot eight times by police and was kicked and beaten by four Israelis as he lay wounded, while bystanders shouted profanities at him.Ofir Jonathan 21 July 2020 Revenge against Palestinians is understandable, Israeli judge says in acquitting two security officers who attacked innocent man https://mondoweiss.net/2020/07/revenge-against-palestinians-is-understandable-israeli-judge-says-in-acquitting-two-security-officers-who-attacked-innocent-man/ MondoweissWootliff Raoul 21 March 2018 Man gets community service over lynching of migrant mistaken for terrorist https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-gets-community-service-over-lynching-of-migrant-mistaken-for-terrorist/ 2023-04-21 Times of Israel en-US Graphic footage of the lynching was filmed by a bystander and spread on social media.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/eritrean-mistakenly-shot-israel-attack-dies-151019064200199.html Israel mob lynches Eritrean after bus station attack At least eleven people, including Zarhum, who died of his wounds a few hours later, and four police officers, were hospitalized. The gunman was the first Israeli Bedouin to be involved in an attack against Israelis.Bedouin Israeli indicted for aiding Kiryat Gat terrorist https://www.timesofisrael.com/bedouin-israeli-indicted-for-aiding-kiryat-gat-terrorist/ The Times of Israel 8 December 2015 13 December 2015 In response to the lynching, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that citizens should not take the law into their own hands.Dyke Joe 19 October 2015 Netanyahu warns against vigilantism after Eritrean killed Yahoo! News AFP https://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-warns-against-vigilantism-eritrean-killed-151420105.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022552/https://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-warns-against-vigilantism-eritrean-killed-151420105.html 17 November 2015 Attack The gunman, armed with a knife and a pistol, used the pistol to shoot a police officer, then grabbed the officer's assault rifle and continued shooting wounding several more police officers, soldiers and civilians.Israeli killed in Beersheva bus station attack https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34567988 BBC News 18 October 2015 18 October 2015 He then attempted to flee but was killed in a shootout with the police. During the attack, security forces shot Zarhum eight times, Eritrean killed in Beersheba ineligible for terror victim status https://www.timesofisrael.com/eritrean-killed-in-beersheba-ineligible-for-terror-victim-status/ 2023-04-21 Times of Israel en-US mistaking him for a second gunman.Eglash Ruth Booth William 19 October 2015 Sunday stabbing and shooting attack in Negev desert leaves two dead The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/sunday-stabbing-and-shooting-attack-in-negev-desert-leaves-two-dead/2015/10/19/79767c0e-7637-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html live limited 19 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151028125248/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/sunday-stabbing-and-shooting-attack-in-negev-desert-leaves-two-dead/2015/10/19/79767c0e-7637-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html 28 October 2015Lazareva Inna Israel bus station attack: 'Palestinian gunman' opens fire in Beersheba https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11939503/Israel-bus-station-attack-gunmen-open-fire-in-Beersheba.html https://web.archive.org/web/20151019090315/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11939503/Israel-bus-station-attack-gunmen-open-fire-in-Beersheba.html dead 19 October 2015 The Daily Telegraph 18 October 2015 18 October 2015Goldman Paul Factor Yael Vinograd Cassandra 19 October 2015 Beersheba Attack: Eritrean Mistaken for Terrorist Is Shot, Beaten NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/beersheba-attack-eritrean-mistaken-terrorist-shot-beaten-n446926 19 October 2015 Bystanders also mistook him for an attacker and kicked him and shouted abuse at him as he lay wounded.Hartman Ben Lappin Yaakov 18 October 2015 Terrorist kills soldier, wounds several others in attack at Beersheba bus station The Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Suspected-terror-attack-near-central-bus-station-in-Beersheba-426325 18 October 2015 A prison officer who took part in the beating told media that he had seen Zarhum lift his hands towards his head, and attacked him in the belief that he was a terrorist who had not been "neutralized" and that he might have been reaching for a weapon.Boker Ron Prison officer who took part in lynching in Beer Sheva: 'I'm not sorry' http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4717769,00.html Ynetnews 28 October 2015 3 November 2015 Victims Haftom Zarhum, who was believed to be a second shooter, was killed in the attack after being shot by police and assaulted by Israeli bystanders. An autopsy determined that Zarhum died of gunshot wounds, not of injuries inflicted by the mob.2 Israel Prisons Service employees face disciplinary hearing in beating of Eritrean man https://www.jta.org/2015/10/26/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/2-israel-prisons-service-employees-face-disciplinary-hearing-in-beating-of-eritrean-man JTA 26 October 2015 3 November 2015 Twelve people, including Zarhum, who died of his wounds a few hours later, and four police officers, were hospitalized. At least one of the wounded Israeli soldiers, 19-year-old Daniel Harush, was shot and critically injured by a fellow security officers who mistook him for a terrorist.Soldier injured in Beersheba attack was shot by police https://www.timesofisrael.com/soldier-injured-in-beersheba-attack-was-shot-by-police/ The Times of Israel 25 October 2015 3 November 2015 At least four of the injured were police officers.Chandler Adam 18 October 2014 A Shooting Attack in Southern Israel The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/israel-violence-jerusalem-palestinian-temple-mount/411166/ live subscription 19 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151019123941/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/israel-violence-jerusalem-palestinian-temple-mount/411166/ 19 October 2015 Perpetrator Initially, Israeli authorities thought that the attacker had accomplices.Beersheba shooting may not have been 'lone wolf' attack, top defense official says https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Beersheba-shooting-may-not-have-been-lone-wolf-attack-top-defense-official-says-426371 The Jerusalem Post 19 October 2015 19 October 2015Harel Amos Amos Harel Be'er Sheva Attack Indicates Calm Is Still Far Away https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2015-10-19/ty-article/.premium/beer-sheva-attack-indicates-calm-is-still-far-away/0000017f-dbde-d3a5-af7f-fbfebed00000 Haaretz 19 October 2015 21 October 2015 Initial Palestinian media reports had misidentified the gunman as one Asam al-Araj of Shuafat.Israeli soldier killed in bus station gun attack http://www.france24.com/en/20151018-israel-shooting-bus-station-beersheba France24 19 October 2015 The gunman was identified by authorities as 21-year-old Muhand al-Okabi (Mohind al-Okbi, Muhannad al-Aqabi, Muhanad al-Uqbi), an Israeli from the Bedouin town of Hura in the Negev.Lappin Yaakov Israeli Beduin identified as gunman in Beersheba shooting attack, Shin Bet says https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israeli-Beduin-identified-as-gunman-in-Beersheba-shooting-attack-police-say-427369 The Jerusalem Post 19 October 2015 19 October 2015 His mother was an immigrant from Gaza who gained citizenship under the Israeli family reunification law after marrying an Israeli citizen. The New York Times describes the involvement of Israeli Bedouin in terrorism as "unusual".Kershner Isabel Isabel Kershner 19 October 2015 Israel Says Bedouin Arab Citizen Carried Out Bus Attack That Killed Soldier The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/world/middleeast/israel-palestinian-violence.html?ref=middleeast&_r=0 live limited 19 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20170808000639/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/world/middleeast/israel-palestinian-violence.html?ref=middleeast&_r=0 8 August 2017 The attacker's cellphone contained photographs of weapons, Hamas militants, and material related to his plan to attack the bus station.Ben Zikri Almog Police: Be'er Sheva Terrorist Was in Contact With Hamas https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2015-10-25/ty-article/.premium/police-beer-sheva-terrorist-was-in-contact-with-hamas/0000017f-e628-df2c-a1ff-fe79d5110000 Haaretz 25 October 2015 3 November 2015 According to co-workers, the perpetrator had expressed confidence that ISIS would soon conquer Israel.Beersheba terrorist 'believed in the Islamic State' https://www.timesofisrael.com/beersheba-terrorist-believed-in-islamic-state/ The Times of Israel 19 October 2015 19 October 2015 The shooter's brother, 20-year-old Omar al-Okabi, allegedly knew that Muhand had acquired a gun and that he had increasingly radical beliefs.Ben Zikri Almog Slain Eritrean Asylum Seeker Was Also Shot by Border Policeman, Police Say https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2015-10-26/ty-article/.premium/police-asylum-seeker-was-also-shot-by-border-policeman/0000017f-e656-dea7-adff-f7ffaa070000 Haaretz 26 October 2015 3 November 2015 He was indicted by the Beersheba Magistrate's Court for failing to prevent his brother from carrying out the attack.https://english.palinfo.com/news/2015/10/27/Brother-of-Palestinian-prisoner-indicted Brother of Palestinian prisoner indicted 27 October 2015 27 November 2022 20 July 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20221127174829/https://english.palinfo.com/news/2015/10/27/Brother-of-Palestinian-prisoner-indicted dead Investigation Police investigation of the attack found that the contractor operating the bus station did not provide adequate security. The company was required to have eleven guards, but only seven were on duty, and the guards failed to properly screen individuals entering the bus station.Lax security blamed in Beersheba attack https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/lax-security-blamed-in-beersheba-attack/ The Times of Israel 2 November 2015 3 November 2015 Lynching and trial Authorities detained four Israelis, David Moyal, Evyatar Damari, Yaakov Shamba and Ronen Cohen, who were involved in beating Zarhum.Israel Prison Service Postpones Decision on Be'er Sheva Lynch Suspect Till Next Week https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2015-10-29/ty-article/.premium/prison-service-postpones-decision-on-lynch-suspect-till-next-week/0000017f-e80e-d62c-a1ff-fc7fd9460000 Haaretz 29 October 2015 3 November 2015 According to the footage from the incident, as Zarhum lay helpless on the ground, Moyal moved in and dropped a bench on him. Moyal was then drawn away by the crowd that surrounded Zarhum. Two other men moved in and kicked Zarhum hard in the head and upper body. A fourth man then again dropped a bench on Zarhum. The prosecution dismissed the defendants' claim of self defense: "the defendants committed serious acts of violence towards the late citizen Haftom Zarhum, who was already shot, wounded and profusely bleeding, from a motive of vengeance and in order to relieve their anger, and not as the defendants claimed from self-defense." In 2018, the prosecution offered a plea bargain to the defendants, downgrading the charge from "causing injury with grave intent", which entails potentially 20 years in prison, to "abuse of a helpless person." Moyal and Damari accepted the offer. In July 2018, Moyal was sentenced to 100 days of community service, eight months of probation, and ordered to pay 2,000 NIS in compensation.https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5303745,00.html Israeli gets lenient sentence after taking part in lynch of Eritrean Ynetnews 4 July 2018 Curiel IlanaBen Zikri Almog 9 March 2018 Israeli State's Attorney Offers Community Service to Asylum Seeker's Lynchers en Haaretz https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2018-03-09/ty-article/israeli-states-attorney-offers-community-service-to-lynchers/0000017f-efff-d497-a1ff-efff6ff70000 2023-04-21 and in December Damari was sentenced to four months in prison. The two others, Yaakov Shamba and Ronen Cohen, took the case to trial. They were tried in the Beersheba District Court for causing injury with grave intent. In July 2020, they were acquitted. The court ruled that their claim that they thought the man was a terrorist was enough to create reasonable doubt for an acquittal.https://www.timesofisrael.com/court-acquits-men-who-lynched-eritrean-migrant-they-mistook-for-terrorist/ Court acquits men who lynched Eritrean migrant they mistook for terrorist The Times of Israel Early reports said that Zarhum possessed a work visa,Kershner Isabel Isabel Kershner 19 October 2015 Killing of Eritrean Migrant Shakes Israeli Confidence Amid Surge of Violence The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/world/middleeast/israel-palestinian-violence.html live limited 3 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151020023246/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/world/middleeast/israel-palestinian-violence.html 20 October 2015 but it was later determined that he was an asylum seeker without a residency permit.Wootliff Raoul Weinstein recommends compensation for family of lynch victim https://www.timesofisrael.com/weinstein-recommends-compensation-for-lynch-victim/ The Times of Israel 28 October 2015 3 November 2015 Despite Zarhum lacking a residency permit, which made his family ineligible for government assistance paid to families of victims of terrorism, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein recommended that the family be given assistance. The Israeli National Insurance Agency, however, rejected Zarhum's family's claim for compensation because he entered the country illegally. Response Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu accused Palestinian leaders of sponsoring social media incitement encouraging young Arabs to attack Israelis, and warned Israelis who witness attacks not to take the law into their own hands, "Someone who witnesses an attack needs to leave the scene and allow security and rescue forces to work.... We're a nation of laws. No one may take the law into their hands."Jones Rory Israelis Urged to Show Restraint in Face of Escalating Violence https://www.wsj.com/articles/eritrean-dies-in-israel-bus-station-attack-1445238202?alg=y The Wall Street Journal 20 October 2015 3 November 2015Schwartz Michael Brumfield Ben 19 October 2015 Netanyahu after mob beating: 'No one will take law into his own hands' CNN http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/19/middleeast/israel-violence/ 3 November 2015 Leaders of the Israeli Bedouin community condemned the attack. The Mayor of Hura, Mohammed Alnabati, stated: "We utterly and unreservedly condemn this despicable act and reject violence of any sort.... We condemn this act on behalf of the entire Bedouin society and wish to make clear that you cannot be both a terrorist and a citizen of the country; the two are inherently contradictory." ISIS posted a series of videos praising the shooter, with titles including "Project Behead the Jews", "Message to the Mujahedin in Jerusalem", and urging Muslims to "this jihad against the Jews". Taleb Abu Arar, Member of Knesset for the United Arab List asserted al-Okbi's "innocence", and demanded that the shooting be investigated "again and again until the truth is uncovered".Lis Jonathan Israeli Arab Lawmaker: Bedouin Slain After Be'er Sheva Terror Attack Was Innocent https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2015-11-05/ty-article/.premium/mk-bedouin-slain-after-attack-was-innocent/0000017f-f0e3-dc28-a17f-fcf729140000 4 November 2015 Haaretz 4 November 2015 The Palestinian Authority honored the attacker as a "shaheed".Inbari Pincus Why the Palestinian Authority Hesitated to Honor Israeli Arab Terrorist as a "Martyr" http://jcpa.org/why-the-palestinian-authority-hesitated-to-honor-israeli-arab-terrorist-as-a-martyr/#sthash.Xtp4TQSX.dpuf Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs 11 January 2016 11 January 2016 Impact After the attack, Eritreans in Israel said that the killing of the Eritrean bystander was an example of racism.African Immigrants Say Killing Reflects Discrimination in Israel Ben Sales 20 October 2015 The Forward http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/322996/african-immigrants-decry-killing-as-evidence-of-fragile-life-in-israel/ Two aspects of the attack led to an extended public conversation; the security personnel seen running away from the active shooter, and the bystanders seen kicking and cursing Zarhum mistaken for a second attacker after he had already been shot. A videotape of Zarhum being beaten while lying on the ground bleeding from gunshot wounds shocked Israelis.Taylor Adam 23 October 2015 In Israel's chaotic violence, cases of mistaken identity can be deadly The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/10/23/in-israels-chaotic-violence-cases-of-mistaken-identity-can-be-deadly/ live limited 3 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151024165751/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/10/23/in-israels-chaotic-violence-cases-of-mistaken-identity-can-be-deadly/ 24 October 2015 The shooting was the subject of the 2016 documentary film Death in the Terminal, directed by Tali Shemesh and Asaf Sudril. The film won prizes at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam and the Ophir Awards,https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/death-in-the-terminal-documentary-first-look-1202421788/ Megan Ellison-Mark Boal Terrorism Documentary 'Death in the Terminal' Lands at Topic Dave McNary 10 May 2017 10 October 2017 Variety as well as Best Film at DocAviv.Bogan Amir 25 May 2016 הזוכה בדוקאביב: סרט על הלינץ' בבאר שבע he ynet https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4807853,00.html 3 May 2019 See also Beersheba shooting 2024 Beersheba bus station shooting Beersheba bus bombings African immigration to Israel Racism in Israel References 30em Category:2015 murders in Israel Category:Terrorist incidents in Israel in 2015 Category:Attacks on bus stations in Asia Category:Beersheba in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict Category:Criminal trials that ended in acquittal Category:Deaths by firearm in Israel Category:Filmed killings in Israel Category:October 2015 in Asia Category:Anti-black racism in Israel