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| Itamar Alon shooting in the bank |
(Scroll down for video) Israeli police have released photos and video of the Be’er Sheva bank robbery and massacre that left several dead, according to video uploaded to the internet. The main suspect was identified as Itamar Alon of the Israeli city Be’er Sheva.
As we reported earlier, a deadly bank robbery and hostage crisis unfolded in the Israeli city of Be’er Sheva, according to a statement released by Israeli police.
Four people were killed, one seriously injured and one slightly injured, during the armed robbery of the bank. The two suspects held a woman hostage during a shootout with the police, but was later released.
The standoff ended after one robber was shot dead, and another was shot and injured.
The initial investigation suggested that the robbers entered the Bank Hapoalim branch at about 1:00 pm local time, and immediately opened fire. The armed robbers later clashed with police and one finally shot himself dead, while the other was shot and wounded, and rushed to a local hospital.
All the wounded have been taken to the Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva. Magen David Adom rescue services responded to the scene as a mass-casualty incident.
A woman outside the bank at the time of the incident said: "I heard shots, went outside and saw many ambulances arrive while a large crowd of onlookers gathered. The children, who were in schools in the area, were kept inside."
“Wherever there are banks there are also bank robberies. Let’s all pray for the wounded that they should have a speedy recovery,” Joshua Fuller, 30, of Be’er Sheva, Israel told YourJewishNews.com after learning about the bank robbery.
Police have identified the suspects as Jewish residents of the city.