At least eight people are believed to be dead with many more wounded following a shooting in the suburbs of Israel‘s second-largest city Tel Aviv.
Police in the southern suburb of Jaffa said it was believed to be a terrorist attack. Magen David Adom ambulance service said it was treating victims some of whom were unconscious.
Israeli media reported that “many” people were wounded including two people in critical condition. The attack is believed to have occurred at a train station.
Pitcures from the scene show two men armed with an assault rifle getting of a train with at least on body pictured on the ground.
The shooting, which took place on Jerusalem Street in Jaffa, came as Israelis braced for an attack by Iran.
Israel‘s MDA ambulance service said it received a report at 7.01 pm (16.01 GMT) of people injured by gunfire.
Medics and paramedics provided on-site medical treatment to a number of wounded people with varying degrees of injuries, including some who were unconscious, MDA added.
Israeli authorities have since said that at least seven people were injured in the shooting on Tuesday night.
According to a statement from the Israeli emergency services spokesperson, two people were in critical condition, two in moderate condition and one lightly injured.
The shooting came just prior to Iran launching ballistic missiles at Israel, according to the IDF.
Red alert sirens were activated across central and southern Israel, with local sources reporting that at least 102 missiles had been fired.
The IDF said: ” All Israeli civilians are in bomb shelters as rockets from Iran are fired at Israel.”
Unverified footage on social media appeared to show Israel‘s air defence systems intercepting several missiles mid-flight.
According to both an Israeli source and a senior U.S. official, Iran is expected to launch around 240 to 250 missiles in two waves, targeting four key locations in Israel, including Mossad headquarters and three airbases.
Once launched, the missiles could reach their targets in under 15 minutes. Both the U.S. and Israel have their defense systems on high alert.
The number of ballistic missiles anticipated is about twice the amount launched by Iran in a previous attack in April, 99 percent of which were intercepted by defence systems.
Residents in the greater Tel Aviv area have been advised by the IDF to remain close to bomb shelters until further notice.
After missiles were launched from Lebanon, sirens were triggered again in central Israel, and IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari urged citizens to take shelter during sirens and remain in safe areas until further updates.