Six people were killed in a shooting and knife attack in Tel Aviv

Six people were killed in a gun and knife attack in Tel Aviv, Israeli police confirmed.

At least nine other people are said to have been injured and several are in critical condition.

Police said the attack began in a train carriage and continued on the platform. Images posted on social networks showed the gunman shooting at passersby in the Jaffa area.

Police said the two attackers were “neutralized” by residents and described the motive as “terrorism”.

The identity of the perpetrator has not been announced. Some Israeli media previously reported the death toll at eight people, although it was unclear whether this number included the attackers.

The shooting occurred shortly before Iran’s missile attack on Israel began.

Police at the scene were seen taking cover as rockets and anti-aircraft missiles flew over the city and air raid sirens sounded.

Witnesses described the shooting, including Benjamin Ratzon, who told Reuters news agency: “People were lying on the ground and they told me to get down.

“I saw the terrorist facing me. He wanted to do something and the security forces arrived at the scene and they ran towards him.”

Another witness told the Jerusalem Post that they initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks before realizing “it was much worse”.

They added: “There were gunshots. We fell to the floor and people were crying. I saw someone bleeding on the ground.”

One shop owner said they quickly closed their shutters when they saw “crowds of people running and shouting ‘terrorist attack'”.

Haartez cited a witness who was at the synagogue at the time of the attack.

“Among the worshipers were doctors who volunteered to work at MDA (Israel’s ambulance service).

“We treated an injured man in the synagogue and then ran into the street to help other injured people.”