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BREAKING Yeruham under attack
Armed police and soldiers have been deployed across the city.
Eyewitnesses have described gunmen firing into restaurants, cafes and office buildings, while eyewitnesses at Gideon Yadin station have reported the use of guns and grenades. Hundreds of people were seen fleeing the ticket hall of the main rail station, armed police entered the station but failed to report the presence of suspected assailants.
Emergency services have reported casualties at Saint Jerome Hospital in the Sotirian Quarter. Staff and patients have told reporters that masked men entered the emergency room and opened fire on all inside. Several described the gunmen also throwing several grenades into the room.
At least four large explosions have since been confirmed in Mazon, Kirayat Savon and Dkalim. Emergency services are treating the explosions as “suspected bomb attacks.”
There are currently unconfirmed reports of further gunfire at the Ganei Ekron Synagogue, the districts of Kidron and Unity.
- Live updates:
- 12.01pm: Police are upgrading the current situation to “ongoing major incident” and is calling for citizens to remain indoors.
- 12.03pm: Unconfirmed explosions and gunfire outside the Church of the Holy Lady on the Solarian Promenade.
- 12.09pm: 14 confirmed killed and 44 wounded at Saint Jerome Hospital.
- 12.13pm: Police declaring ongoing situation a “terrorist incident.”
- 12.14pm: Reports of gunfire and explosions outside restaurants and bars on Yair Rabin Street.
- 12.18pm: Interim President informed of the situation – Mayor’s office.
- 12.19pm: Mayor Ephraim Egan (APP) tweets, “aware of ongoing situation. Urging all citizens to remain indoors and vigilant. My prayers go out to all police, emergency services and to the people of our great city. Be safe.”
- 12.24pm: Police in shootout with gunmen on Yair Rabin Street.
- 12.30pm: Reported gunfire inside Golden Bay and the Yeruham Trident Hotels.
- 12.26pm: Police confirm deaths of three gunmen on Yair Rabin Street.
- 12.31pm: Ministry of Defence reporting bomb and gun attacks on federal troops in Qadessiya Province.
- 12.33pm: Police Chief Mahmoud al-Asawi confirms “many dead and many more injured” in tweet.
- 12.40pm: Unconfirmed reports of hostage situation in Yeruham Trident hotel.
- 12.43pm: Interim President Nazim al-Qutayni to address the nation.
- 12.50pm: Provincial Governor requests federal assistance says Mayor's office.
- 13.03pm: Fahida Salam 34, "I was waiting for a train at the platform when all of a sudden I could hear what sounded like fireworks, then lots of screaming.
It was utter chaos, then I started running and saw lots of bodies." - 13.10pm: What we know: An unknown number of gunmen have attacked several locations in Yeruham, including Gideon Yadin station, Saint Jerome Hospital, Ganei Ekron Synagogue, the Church of the Holy Lady, several restaurants on Yair Rabin Street, a police station and two popular hotels on the Solarian Promenade. There have also been two large suspected car bomb attacks in Mazon and Dkalim districts. There is currently unconfirmed reports of hostages being taken by gunmen in the Yeruham Trident hotel, which is popular with Euclean tourists and business people.
- 13.14pm: Mayor Ephraim Egan tells reporters, "we believe that up to 15 gunmen have conducted the attacks at this time. Two have been confirmed shot dead by police. We currently searching for the remaining attackers.
- 13.20pm: Police confirm that up to 30 people have been taken hostage inside the Yeruham Trident. The federal government is to deploy forces to Yeruham according to sources inside the administration.
- 13.29pm: Ministry of Defence is reporting numerous clashes in the east, though they are refusing to say whether the attacks are connected with the ongoing situation in Yeruham.
- 13.34pm: Interim President Nazim al-Qutayni gives televised address: "we must be strong and united for Yeruham. As a nation, we will confront and defeat terrorism, whatever form it takes."
- 13.35pm: Interim President further says, "the attackers in Yeruham will be pursued, hunted and brought to justice. The situation is under our control and we will resolve it."
- 13.40pm: Police enter the Golden Bay Hotel. Heavy gunfire can be heard, and several fires have broken out on the higher floors.
- 13.47pm: Mayor's Office reports up to 100 people have been killed. Earlier reports of gunfire in Beit Sharon have been denied.
- 13.56pm: Heavy gunfire and explosions heard inside the Golden Bay.
- 14.04pm: Police declare Golden Bay cleared and secured, six gunmen confirmed killed. Hundreds of guests are seen being escorted outside of the hotel.
- 14.10pm: Gunfire heard inside the Yeruham Trident, unconfirmed reports of police casualties.
- 14.16pm: Gunmen inside the Yeruham Trident have demanded the withdrawal of federal forces from the Eastern Provinces, the resignation of the Interim Government and the release of all political prisoners aligned with the late President Atwan al-Tughluq.
- 14.29pm: Federal Forces under sustained attack in Qadessiya Province, says MoD.
- 14.32pm: Large explosions reported outside a synagogue in Zahana, Beniane Province.
- 14.38pm: Several military helicopters seen flying toward the Solarian Promenade.
- 14.43pm: Police and military have begun to storm the Yeruham Trident. Helicopters are holding position over the roof and deploying special forces.
- 14.50pm: Sustained gunfire and explosions coming from the Yeruham Trident, major fires have broken out on the fifth and sixth floors.
- 14.55pm: Guests and staff are fleeing the hotel from the lobby, escorted by police.
- 15.00pm: Sporadic gunfire coming from the Yeruham Trident, more guests and staff can be seen fleeing through a fire-exit.
- 15.04pm: Special forces spokesman confirms the Yeruham Trident is "secure and cleared of terrorists."
- 15.19pm: Mayor's Office reports "situation is over" but urges citizens to remain fully vigilant.
- 15.26pm: Large numbers of soldiers seen entering Yeruham.
- 15.30pm: Survivors from the Golden Bay describe gunmen shooting guests and staff, before going room to room and shooting people in hiding.
- 15.36pm: Soldiers and police urged to donate blood, while several hospitals are reporting that they have run out of beds.
- 15.49pm: "Many foreigners have been killed or injured" says government spokesman.
- 15.58pm: Up to 190 people confirmed killed, while over 400 have been injured says government spokesman.
- 16.02pm: Mayor's Office officially declares the situation over, police and army will maintain large presence. The Mayor's Office also reports that 14 gunmen were killed, they are currently being identified by the security services.
- 16.11pm: A group called Al-Isbah has claimed responsibility on social media, this is currently being verified by the security services. The group has previously claimed responsibility for several smaller attacks in mixed regions of the country. The group claimed responsibility for the assassination of Amir Salami, an MP with the Party for Irfanic Democracy last week.
- 16.19pm: Government to launch inquiry into the attack, sources are indicating that major concerns have arisen over the slow and chaotic response of law enforcement.
This is the end of our live updates. For more detailed information and analysis please see here .
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