Tel Aviv (TPS) – A mass shooting terror attack occurred in Tel Aviv’s central Sarona Market shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, claiming the lives of at least three victims.

“What we know so far is that two terrorists arrived at the Sarona compound while shooting at civilians.  They managed to severely injure nine victims, three of whom tragically died,” stated Tel Aviv Police chief Moshe Edri. “[The terrorists] were both neutralized and their guns captured.”

Ten people arrived at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital, including the three fatalities, the hospital announced. Four are undergoing surgery, including one of the terrorists. One of the injured is in critical condition.

According to the Tel Aviv police, two gunmen opened fire on the crowd outisde the compound, after which one was shot and the other assailant was captured by the police without injury. Eyewitnesses report that the attackers were dressed elegantly in black suits and ties – some reportedly told police that they looked like “lawyers.”

Sarona Market is a trendy, newly-opened leisure district in central Tel Aviv. On Wednesday night the area was packed with people dining at the posh restaurants and shopping at the boutique stores. Sarona is also located across the street from the Israel Defense Force headquarters – the military compound was placed under lockdown as the shooting began, an officer at the headquarters told Tazpit Press Service (TPS).

“The investigation into the attack is continuing. We are still in the middle of an ongoing event I urge everyone to listen to the police today and stay out of danger,” said Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai from Ichilov Hospital. “Tomorrow please return to your daily lives, since this city is a symbol of sanity and strength of character in the face of adversity.”

“We were in Sarona and we suddenly heard gunshots and started running. Then someone let us into the kitchen of a restaurant,” Sagi Molcho told TPS while still hiding in the restaurant’s kitchen.

According to the Tel Aviv Police, at least one of the terrorists is a Palestinian from Judea and Samaria. Palestinian sources claim that both terrorists are from the Dura village near Hebron.

Improvised Carl Gustav machine guns were retrieved from the as-yet unidentified attackers. Such weapons have been commonly used by Palestinian terrorists during the recent wave of violence.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from Moscow shortly after the attack and held an emergency meeting at the IDF headquarters, near the scene of the attack.