One of the suspects in the Tel Aviv terror attack was discovered in a police officer’s home, hiding among a group of people the cop had offered to shelter.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told CNN the off-duty officer visited the scene of the shooting, then realized that one of the men in his home was dressed similarly to the other suspected gunman who had been shot and captured.
Rosenfeld says the man was not armed while he was hiding in the home.
Two shooters opened fire Wednesday night at the popular Sarona Market killing four and injuring over a dozen. Both have been arrested.
The mayor of the suspects’ hometown identified the pair to CNN on Thursday. But CNN is not identifying them as Israeli authorities have issued a gag order.
According to Israel’s security agency, the suspects are Palestinians from a village in the southern West Bank, near Hebron. Both are in their 20s.
Husband dead, wife shot
Four people remain hospitalized following the attack, said police spokeswoman Luba Samri, including one of the attackers who is in stable condition.
One of the wounded, Tal Ari, who was shot several times in her shoulder and arm, attended her husband’s funeral by ambulance Thursday.
With her arm bandaged, the special needs teacher sobbed over the body of her husband Ben Ari, as a crowd of mourners looked on. She returned to the hospital afterward for further treatment.
The couple were dining at the restaurant Max Brenner when the attack occurred. He was shot several times, first in the back.
“He was the glue that stuck all the family around him,” said the victim’s brother-in-law, Yigal Goldenberg. “A wonderful soul and we miss him already.”
The 42-year-old was a father to two sons, aged 16 and 14, and worked at The Coca-Cola Company’s Israel branch.
Three other shooting victims have been identified as Ilana Naveh, 39, Michael Feige, 58, and Mila Misheiv, 32. All were Israeli.
Border closed
On Friday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that crossings from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, into Israel, are closed through Sunday.
Palestinians will be allowed to pass through “only in humanitarian and medical cases” or “for Friday prayers at the Temple Mount,” the statement said.
Palestinian official news agency WAFA said that 6,000 people were prevented from entering into al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem for Iftar.
Iftar is the break from daily fasting during Ramadan when the sun goes down.
Israeli raids detain 12
Israeli forces also continued raids across the West Bank Thursday night detaining at least 12 Palestinians, according to local and security sources.
Troops forcefully stormed homes in the districts of Nablus, Hebron, and Bethlehem. One woman said troops left holes in her doors and walls and took her son away, but she didn’t know why.
Israeli soldiers stationed at the nearby Za’tara checkpoint also detained a Palestinian from Nablus while he was attempting to pass.
