In Israel, a man dressed in black opened fire on a gay club in the city of Tel Aviv on Saturday night. He killed two people and injured 11 others, most of them teenagers. He then ran away and has not been caught.

Although Tel Aviv police say the man’s motives are unclear, representatives of the city’s gay community have called it a homophobic attack. All gay bars and clubs have since been closed as a precautionary measure.

A few hours after the incident, thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the shooting.

This is not the first attack on gay people in the country. In 2005, a man stabbed three participants of a gay pride parade. He was sentenced to 12 yeas in prison.

Homosexuality is considered by many orthodox Jews consider to be an “abomination”. However, the Israeli government repealed a ban on same-sex sexual acts in 1988. Since then Israeli courts have also recognised certain rights of gay or lesbian couples.

Photo of Tel Aviv gay club attack by ANP