Tel Aviv gunman killed in police shootout

Israeli police say they have killed the suspect in a shooting attack in Tel Aviv on New Year’s Day that left three dead.

He was located in a mosque in Umm al-Fahm and targeted by Israeli security forces. It was later confirmed that he had been killed.

According to reports, Nashat Melhem who is alleged to have opened fire in a bar last week, was today found by police in his home town of Ar’ara in northern Israel, after a week-long manhunt.

Meanwhile, police forces erected checkpoints around the Sharon region, including along a number of the areas on main roads. Authorities have warned he is armed, risky and capable of striking again.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel asked Deputy Attorney General Attorney Raz Nizri to investigate the conduct of the police during the search for Melhem in north Tel Aviv earlier this week. He said he could not elaborate “in order to not cause harm” to the ongoing investigation.

Milhelm’s relatives had said he was “traumatized” after a cousin was shot dead in a 2006 police arrest raid.

The Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (Tase) expects to attract more global investors following a strategic agreement with exchange provider Nasdaq. He then drove the cab himself to Namir Road, where he abandoned it near a bus stop. Palestinian assailants have since October 1 killed 23 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians. He later also shot and killed an Arab taxi driver.

The Israeli authorities had been reluctant to specify the motives of the attack.