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Tel Aviv gay centre shooting

UNSOLVED2009Nahmani Street, Tel Aviv (Bar-Noar LGBT youth centre)3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence · sexual violence · suicide · ongoing investigation — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

On the evening of August 1, 2009, at around 23:00, an unknown assailant entered the Tel Aviv branch of the Israeli LGBT Association, known as "Bar-Noar" ("Youth Bar"), on Nahmani Street, and opened fire on a crowd attending a youth social event before fleeing on foot. Two people were killed: 26-year-old Nir Katz of Givatayim and 17-year-old Liz Troubishi of Holon. At least fifteen others were wounded, six seriously; most of the injured were minors. The centre had only one terrace and no other exit, so attendees hid under beds and tables as shots were fired. Five of the wounded were treated at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and five at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon. In 2020, survivor Chen Langer, the most severely injured victim, died by suicide following a long struggle with PTSD attributed to the attack; he is described as the shooting's third fatal casualty.

Police launched an immediate manhunt, setting up roadblocks and closing nearby gay venues as a precaution against further attacks. Hundreds of officers conducted street and door-to-door searches. Investigators discounted a nationalist-terrorism motive; the gay community suspected a homophobic motive, while police said it was premature to characterize the attack as a hate crime and also pursued the possibility of a personal dispute.

The attack triggered large protests and vigils. Hours afterward, demonstrators marched through central Tel Aviv to the Tel Aviv Municipal LGBT Community Center. A week later, a solidarity rally in Rabin Square drew tens of thousands, addressed by President Shimon Peres; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset members, and Israeli public figures also visited the site or condemned the shooting. Vigils were held internationally, including in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto, and Berlin.

The investigation continued for nearly four years. In June 2013, three suspects from Pardes Katz were arrested; a fourth, described as a "veteran Bar-Noar figure," was also detained. According to police accounts reported by the Jerusalem Post, the shooting was allegedly planned by relatives of a teenager who said he had been raped by an activist at the centre. Charges against two suspects were dropped on June 23, 2013, and Hagai Felician was indicted on two counts of murder on July 10, 2013. In February 2014, the prosecution's case collapsed after evidence emerged that the state's witness had fabricated testimony; that witness was arrested for fabricating evidence. Felician was released to house arrest and, on March 9, 2014, all charges against him were formally dropped. As of 2024, no one has been convicted, and the shooter has not been apprehended.

Key facts

Victims
Nir Katz, Chen Langer, Liz Troubishi
Date
2009
Location
Nahmani Street, Tel Aviv (Bar-Noar LGBT youth centre)
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 2009-08-01

    A gunman opens fire at the Bar-Noar LGBT youth centre in Tel Aviv, killing two and wounding at least fifteen.

  2. 2009-08-03

    Police accompany a teenaged survivor to the basement of the centre for a reenactment; vigils held in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.

  3. 2009-08-08

    Solidarity rally held in Rabin Square, Tel Aviv, attended by tens of thousands and addressed by President Shimon Peres; Prime Minister Netanyahu visits the crime scene.

  4. 2009-08-31

    Candlelight vigil held in Vancouver in memory of Nir Katz.

  5. 2012-12

    The pistol used in the shooting, a Tanfoglio 9mm, is found by hikers.

  6. 2013-06-05

    Arrests of three suspects from Pardes Katz announced; a gag order placed on investigation details.

  7. 2013-06-11

    Gag order lifted; police detail alleged motive involving an accusation of rape at the centre.

  8. 2013-06-23

    Charges dropped against two of the three original suspects.

  9. 2013-06-24

    It is cleared for publication that Yaakov Felician, Hagai Felician's brother, was arrested on rape charges.

  10. 2013-07-10

    Hagai Felician indicted on two counts of murder.

  11. 2014-02

    Prosecution's case against Felician collapses after evidence the state's witness fabricated testimony; witness arrested.

  12. 2014-02-26

    Felician released from custody to house arrest.

  13. 2014-03-09

    All charges against Hagai Felician are dropped.

  14. 2020-06-15

    Shooting survivor Chen Langer dies by suicide following long-term PTSD attributed to the attack, becoming the third deadly casualty.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Nir Katz

    VICTIM

    26-year-old victim killed in the shooting

    citation on file

  • Tarlan Hankishayev

    CHARGED

    Named as an alleged co-plotter in the case against Hagai Felician; charges against him were dropped on June 23, 2013

    citation on file

  • Chen Langer

    VICTIM

    Survivor of the shooting who died by suicide in 2020 after a long battle with PTSD, later recognized as a third deadly casualty of the attack

    citation on file

  • Hagai Felician

    CHARGED

    Indicted on two counts of murder in July 2013; all charges dropped in March 2014 after the key witness was found to have fabricated evidence

    citation on file

  • Liz Troubishi

    VICTIM

    17-year-old victim killed in the shooting

    citation on file

Places

Nahmani Street, Tel Aviv (Bar-Noar LGBT youth centre)

32.0656, 34.7761

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On August 1, 2009, an unidentified gunman opened fire at the Bar-Noar LGBT youth centre in Tel Aviv, killing two people and wounding at least fifteen others. Despite an arrest and indictment in 2013, charges were dropped in 2014 after the key witness was found to have fabricated evidence, and the shooter remains unidentified as of 2024.
Where did the shooting happen?
Nahmani Street, Tel Aviv (Bar-Noar LGBT youth centre).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved.

Sources

  1. Tel Aviv gay centre shootingwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — Reutersnews · Reuters · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — ABC News (Australia)news · ABC News (Australia) · 2026-07-07
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