................... Shooting At GLBT Youth Meeting .....................

An attack on a Gay & Lesbian Youth Centre in Tel Aviv.

First article by the BBC - Second by CNN - interesting differences.

Meanwhile - our blessings and prayers to those hurt and their families. Our deepest sorrow for the two young people killed and the grief now being visited on their families.

***UPDATE*** - a third victim has died in hospital. So sad.


BBC

City councillor Yaniv Weizman: 'It's a big shock in Tel Aviv, one of the most liberal and free cities'

A lone gunman has killed two people and wounded at least 10 at a gay support centre in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv before escaping.

Most of the victims were gay teenagers, who were meeting at the centre on Nachmani street when the gunman entered and started firing indiscriminately.

The black-clad man is still at large and police have ordered the temporary closure of all gay clubs in the city.

Gay leaders say it is Israel's worst-ever hate crime against the community.

That's actually the surprising issue, there is not at all any homophobic activity in Tel Aviv Yaron Arad Tel Aviv hotel worker

Witnesses said the gunman fired in all directions with a handgun.

At one point, three deaths were being reported but later accounts spoke only of two fatalities - that of a young man and a young woman.

The shootings took place at the headquarters of the local lesbian and gay rights association.

Shock

Hundreds of lesbian and gay Israelis held a rally in Tel Aviv in protest at the shooting, and candles were lit at the scene.

A rally was held in support of the city's gay community after the attack

One woman said she was "terrified, shocked, surprised, amazed" by the attack "because it was so unexpected".

Yaron Arad, who works at a nearby hotel, said the gay community was part of the city.

"We know that Tel Aviv has a very lively gay community with plenty of activities going around," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"That's actually the surprising issue, there is not at all any homophobic activity in Tel Aviv.

"Jerusalem does not naturally accept the gay community but here in Tel Aviv it's different, totally different story. A lot of parties, a lot of gay people having fun here. That's why it's so shocking what's happened here tonight."

'Inside knowledge'

Annual gay pride marches are often met with violent protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem.

The head of Israel's youth Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association, Yaniv Weisman, told the BBC the gunman must have intended to attack the centre.

"We still don't know who is behind this attack, but someone that knew this place because it's not a place you can see outside," he said.

He said the gay community was demanding to know why it had been targeted.

"There is a big anger and if we will know that behind this action it's a religious movement, we will punish the people behind it," he said.

"The gay community here is very strong, and there will be a reaction from the gay community and the people in the government will be the first one to give us answers."

Tel Aviv has in the past been targeted in attacks by Palestinian militants but there was no suggestion that Saturday's attack had Palestinian involvement.

A police spokesman described the attack as "criminal rather than nationalistic".

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CNN

(CNN) — At least two people were killed and 11 others wounded in a shooting at a Tel Aviv club Saturday night, Israeli police said.

The shooting occured at a “gay club,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told CNN.

Rosenfeld said the incident did not appear to be a terrorist act.

No other details were immediately available.

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Yup - heaven forbid the good ol' US media reports on gay & lesbian youth being killed.

As we all know - that sort of reporting makes your kids gay.

Shameful.

.