Israel Police chief Shabtai says ‘fast reaction’ prevented mass killing in Tel Aviv

Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai says that the fast reaction of four armed individuals prevented a much worse situation in Tel Aviv tonight.

Speaking to reporters at the scene of a shooting in Tel Aviv on Dizengoff Street, Shabtai says that “four armed individuals” helped take out the gunman who wounded three people.

Shabtai says that two police officers — including one off duty — and two citizens — including a reserve IDF officer — shot and “neutralized” the attacker not long after the shooting.

“We had a lot of luck here,” says Shabtai, “the fast reaction of the cops and citizens on the site prevented the murder of hundreds of people.”

The police chief says police know how the terrorist entered the country illegally but declined to provide those details at this time.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is not expected to show up at the shooting site this evening.