Tel Aviv pub shooting suspect shot dead by police

An Arab-Israeli perpetrator of a deadly shooting spree in Tel Aviv was shot and killed by police in northern Israel on Friday, following a week-long manhunt, security officials said.

The police has confirmed that Nashat Melhem, 31, "was located and killed" near a mosque in the town of Arara, his northern hometown.

Police surrounded the building, calling him to surrender himself. Melhem shot towards the police while stepping out of the building and then was shot dead.

Channel 2 TV news said Melhem was caught thanks to neighbors who informed the security forces of his presence.

Earlier on Friday, police deployed large forces in Tel Aviv and Wadi Ara, a region of many Arab towns, including Arara.

Minister of Interior Security Gilad Erdan said forces with the police, army, border police, and the Shin Bet security service took part in the manhunt.

Melhem's shooting spree took place on Dizengoff street, an area of pubs and restaurants, on a busy noon hour last Friday. He opened fire with a submachine gun, killing two men and wounding eight others. He escaped the scene before police arrived.

On Wednesday, police said he is also suspected of killing an Arab-Israeli taxi driver. He apparently killed the driver as the taxi approached a police barricade, less than an hour after the attack at the pub.

The incident came amid three months of Israeli-Palestinian violence, which has claimed the lives of at least 139 Palestinians and 23 Israelis. Endit