One Killed, Eleven Injured in Terror Attack at Beersheba Central Bus Station

A terror attack at the Beersheba Central Bus Station left one dead and eleven others wounded, in what Israeli authorities have labeled a deliberate assault. The attacker, identified as Ahmad al-Uqbi, a 29-year-old Israeli citizen from a Bedouin hamlet near Lakiya, was neutralized on the scene by security forces.

According to Magen David Adom (MDA), the attack occurred on Sunday afternoon, with paramedics rushing to provide immediate aid. Among the wounded was a 25-year-old woman who later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Several others, including one woman in her 20s in serious condition and four men in moderate condition, were treated for gunshot wounds. Five additional people sustained injuries from shattered glass or blunt trauma, and three suffered from anxiety.

The assailant entered the station through the McDonald’s entrance and opened fire, causing widespread panic. Quick action from soldiers stationed nearby brought the situation under control within seconds. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as bystanders fled in terror. 

Al-Uqbi, who had a criminal record, was reportedly related to Muhanad Alukabi, the perpetrator of a similar terror attack at the same bus station in 2015. During that attack, one soldier was killed, and an Eritrean man was mistakenly shot in the confusion.

MDA paramedics described the scene as chaotic, with victims scattered around the station and said their teams tried to save the life of a young woman, but her injuries were too severe. They worked to stabilize the other victims and transported them to nearby hospitals. 

Authorities continue to investigate the incident, while security forces remain on high alert in southern Israel. This attack marks a continuation of tensions in the region.