Gunman Kills Israeli Soldier at Beersheba Bus Station, Hamas Applauds Attack

One Israeli soldier was killed and at least nine bystanders were injured after a gunman opened fire at the main bus station in Beersheba Sunday evening, Israeli police said.

The Israel Police initially said two attackers were shot, with one dying of his wounds, but later announced there had been only one attacker.

Hamas applauded the attack and vowed what it called an “intifada” — or uprising — would continue and escalate, Jerusalem Post Arab affairs correspondent Khaled Abu Toameh reported.

Hamas, which did not claim responsibility for the attack, called it the “natural response to field executions.” Palestinians have accused Israel of carrying out “field executions” upon those who've stabbed and initiated other attacks on Israelis.

Inside central bus station in beer Sheva police units searching area making sure there are no further terrorist. pic.twitter.com/QbOiaWPc3z

— Micky Rosenfeld (@MickyRosenfeld) October 18, 2015

Police sources told Israel Army Radio that elsewhere in the station a security officer shot a foreign worker he had mistakenly identified as a second shooter, wounding him.

WATCH: Israeli medics and @UnitedHatzalah treating 7 wounded in Beer Sheva central bus station shooting attack. pic.twitter.com/Iqr4fHctlM

— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) October 18, 2015

Police were already patrolling the station due to the heightened state of alert since the wave of Palestinian attacks in Israeli cities began.

Graphic security camera images showed people running, some falling to the floor and one man being shot — though it was unclear if he was a victim or the attacker.