Aguda Building in Tel Aviv where attack took place
Four people were arrested this week in connection with the 2009 shooting that left two dead and 15 injured at the Aguda, the LGBT community center in Tel Aviv.
According to The Jerusalem Post, one of those arrested is a gay activist who knew the motivation but did not share the information with police.
Police ruled this was not a hate crime but one of the suspects had a particular target who he thought was in the center at the time.
On Aug. 1, 2009, an armed man entered the Tel Aviv LBGT Center and killed counselor Nir Katz, 27, and straight ally Liz Trubeshi, 16. Two of those injured remain in wheelchairs. The murderer wore a stocking cap and escaped on a motorcycle.
The attack inspired candlelight vigils in Tel Aviv and around the world including in Dallas, where it caused Youth First Texas to look at its own security.
Members of Dallas’ Congregation Beth El Binah were particularly saddened by the attack because members had visited the center and met Katz during a trip to Israel earlier that year.
A gag order remains in the case so few details have been released. The Tel Aviv police department was given an unlimited budget to investigate the case and more than 1,000 people have been questioned. The arrests came two days before LGBT Pride in Tel Aviv.
