Tel Sheva residents left without power after armed men target electrical infrastructure

Residents of neighborhood 1 in the Tel Sheva local council have been without electricity since early Tuesday morning, after masked men shot at a transformer and damaged the local power grid.

Last night, Israel Electric Corporation crews arrived at the scene to replace the transformer damaged by the gunfire. However, the repair work required traffic adjustments and the closure of a roundabout for safety. Due to the lack of police escort, the crews were unable to complete the task.

This morning, Wednesday, when the company's crews returned, they encountered masked men armed with long guns at the entrance to the neighborhood. The Israel Electric Corporation stated that the armed individuals approached the crew, creating a real threat to their safety:

"In light of the danger to the employees' lives, the crews were forced to leave the scene without completing the repair."

The Israel Electric Corporation has filed a formal complaint with the police, stating: "We view any threat or violence against our employees with great severity." As of now, there is no estimated time for the restoration of power.

One local resident told ynet:

"I saw the workers at the scene and spoke with them. They said they would finish by 17:00. Then they suddenly disappeared. At the entrance to the town, between Omer and Tel Sheva, there are police cars, but no one arrived. Where is the governance? In my neighborhood, there are sick people, the elderly, and children. We have no electricity. We are in the heat of August, and the Electric Corporation talks to the police, the police talk to the Electric Corporation, and we remain without power."