BICOM

Nashat Milhem, the Arab Israeli man assumed to have shot dead two people in a central Tel Aviv bar ten days ago was tracked down on Friday and killed following a shoot-out with security forces.

Milhem opened fire at the Simta bar on Dizengoff Street on 1 January but fled the scene and evaded capture despite a huge manhunt. 26-year-old Alon Bakal and 30-year-old Shimon Ruimi were killed in the attack. Meanwhile a third person, taxi driver Amin Shaaban, who was found dead soon after the shooting, is also thought to have been killed by Milhem.

Towards the end of last week, Israeli police said they believed that Milhem had fled towards northern Israel or even the Palestinian areas of the West Bank. He was eventually found in his home village of Arara in northern Israel. Special forces closed in on the building and eventually Milhem fired at them using the same weapon with which he carried out the original attack, sparking a gunfight in which Milhem was killed.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan praised the security forces, saying that they “practically turned over every stone, and worked day and night over the past week. All our enemies should know that we will hit whoever tries to harm us and we will continue to fight terrorism with full force.”

Milhem’s father and brother, who had been arrested and questioned in connection with the attack, were yesterday released from custody. Maariv reports this morning that several other arrests have been made and searches conducted in connection with the case, in the assumption that Milhem was given assistance once he returned to Arara.

Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, praised Milhem, saying, “He went in the streets of Tel Aviv like a brave hero … in order to bring them death.” Meanwhile, Channel Two says that the Palestinian Authority is considering declaring Milhem a “martyr who spilled his pure blood to free our land.”