Israel Border Police officer killed in Beersheba terror attack, nine wounded

One person was killed and at least nine were wounded in a terrorist attack on Sunday after shots were heard at the Beersheba Central Bus Station. The attack comes amid sky-high tensions and war, and just one day before the commemoration of the October 7 massacre.

Magen David Adom (MDA) said its paramedics provided medical treatment at the scene to nine individuals wounded to various degrees. One young woman who was critically injured succumbed to her wounds at the hospital. She was later identified as 19-year-old Israel Border Police Cpl. Shira Chaya Suslik from Beersheba; she leaves behind her parents and three siblings.

MDA transferred two people in serious condition to the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, as well as four in moderate condition and two individuals who had been lightly wounded.

According to Israeli media reports, the assailant was Ahmad Said Suliman al-Ukabi, a 29-year-old Israeli citizen of Bedouin background.

“We provided initial treatment at the scene to a young woman who was seriously injured and was later transported to the hospital,” United Hatzalah updated. “We treated another woman who was in critical condition and four people who were moderately and lightly to moderately injured. In addition, we assisted at the scene several people who suffered from emotional shock due to the nature of the incident.”

Condemnations across the spectrum

Following the attack, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the deportation of the terrorist and his family, despite their Israeli citizenship.

“I call on the Prime Minister to pass the law we proposed today to deport families of terrorists. Pass the law of deporting families of terrorists.” He qualified this by saying, “There are many Bedouins loyal to the state, but there are some who are not. Those who are unfaithful should be dealt with firmly.”

Mansour Abbas, head of Ra’am (United Arab List), condemned the attack, saying, “This is not the way of the Arab citizens who know how to show a moral and legal civic commitment and abhor any kind of violence, and reject any attempt to drag them to participate in acts of political violence.”

היום בוצע פשע נתעב בבאר שבע נגד אזרחים חפים מפשע , אנו מגנים את הפיגוע במיוחד שהמבצע אזרח ערבי מהפזורה בנגב. זו לא דרכם של האזרחים הערבים שידעו לגלות מחויבות אזרחית ערכית וחוקית , וסלדו מכל סוג של אלימות , ודחו כל ניסיון לגרור אותם להשתתף במעשי אלימות פוליטית.

— Mansour Abbas מנסור עבאס (@mnsorabbas) October 6, 2024

They also warned that we should not allow any “extremist party/group” to take advantage of the situation to deepen societal rifts and sow division between the two peoples and called for increased cooperation and cohesion against terrorism.