Israel: Police make arrests in connection with 2009 LGBT teen centre shooting

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Israeli media are reporting that police have arrested three suspects in connection with a shooting at a gay community centre in 2009.

Two people, 26-year-old Nir Katz and 16-year-old Liz Trubeshi were killed when a masked gun man dressed head to toe in black entered the venue, underneath Cafe Noir in Tel Aviv, 28 Nachmani Street at the junction with Ahad Ha’am Street. He shot at least 14 people, spraying the interior of the club with automatic rifle fire and reportedly attempted to enter another venue. Media report that the venue was the scene of a “blood bath”.

Tonight, YNet, reports that the three suspects, all Jews, will appear in a court on Thursday for a remand hearing. There is currently a blackout on reporting their identities. Tel Aviv will celebrate gay pride, the largest pride event in the Middle East the following day.

The incident shocked LGBT people and Jews across the world and was the cause of vigils in many countries. In 2010, PinkNews reported on a visit to the LGBT Holocaust memorial in Berlin by survivors of the shooting.