Armed man at British Embassy compound named
An armed man threatening to commit suicide breached security at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv today and was loose on the grounds inside, Israeli police said.
Police officials identified the man as Nadim Injaz, 28, from Ramallah, a suspected informer for the Israeli security services who was demanding asylum in the United Kingdom.
Embassy spokeswoman Karen Kaufman said police had been invited into the embassy compound and were seeking to deal with the situation. There were no reports of any shots fired.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the man was armed with a pistol and police were on the scene and had made contact with him. Police said anti-terrorist units had surrounded the site.
Police officials said the man was apparently a Palestinian informer for Israeli security services who had encountered financial troubles and was seeking refuge in the United Kingdom.
The man had positioned himself inside the parking lot of the embassy and police were conducting negotiations with him and trying to convince him to put down his pistol.
However, special forces were also preparing to take him down by force if needed, officials said.
The man said he would be killed if forced to return to Ramallah because he had worked with Israel, police officials said.
The embassy, on the Tel Aviv seafront, is ringed by a fence and visitors are normally screened by security guards at the gate.
Police officials said Injaz managed to jump the fence of the compound but was stopped by security before he could enter the building.
