Be'er Sheva Bus Terminal
Be'er Sheva Bus TerminalMeir Even Haim / Flash 90

Could the murderous attack in Be'er Sheva's Central Bus Station have been averted?

A local Be'er Sheva newspaper, Sheva, published a front page expose Friday about the lack of proper security arrangements at various public facilities in the southern city – starting with the Central Bus Station.

A reporter for the newspaper entered the bus terminal with a suitcase in his hand. The guard at the entrance did not even ask him to open it, nor did he use a metal detector on him or the suitcase.

The police told the newspaper that security at the terminal is under the responsibility of the station itself, as opposed to the railway station, where security is much tighter, luggage is screened and people entering are checked with a metal detector.

Just  two days later, a terrorist armed with a handgun entered the station, murdered a soldier and snatched his weapon, then used it to spray a hail of bullets at policemen and civilians before he was killed himself.

Locals confirmed to Channel 2 Online that security at the terminal is known to be extremely lax.

The security firm that is in charge of the terminal confirmed to Sheva that only people who look suspicious are checked at the entrances to the terminal.