Three Dead After Shooting at Tel Aviv LGBT Youth Center

By http://www.365gay.com

08.01.2009

A gunman wearing black began shooting at a Tel Aviv gay and lesbian center called Café Noir Saturday night, killing three people and wounding at least eight more - other reports put the number of wounded as high as 15.

The shooter walked into the center during a meeting for LGBT teens. Most of the victims were very young, and many were not yet out to their families.

Police are searching for the gunman, and believe the incident was a homophobic attack rather than a part of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflicts.

Tel Aviv has an active LGBT scene, but several conservative groups in Israel frown on homosexuality.

The Jerusalem Post reports that police have ordered the closing of gay clubs all over the city as a safety precaution, and that one of the people killed was a youth counselor.

There is a short version of the story up at Reuters.

A story on Ynet News indicates that the attack took place during a regular meeting for LGBT teenagers. At least one witness says the gunman was masked.