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The Independent
21-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Israel ‘terror attack': Everything we know about Tel Aviv bus bombings as police hunt for culprits
Three buses exploded in Israel in a suspected terror attack on Thursday night. Explosive devices planted on board were detonated in Bat Yam, in southern Tel Aviv. 'Intensified anti-terror' activity will continue in the occupied West Bank following the explosions, the military said, suggesting it will ramp up assaults on refugee camps which have increased in frequency and intensity since January. But many questions remain about Thursday's explosions, with the perpetrators still at large. Here is everything we know about the Israel bus attacks. What happened? Beginning at around 8:30pm on Thursday night, three explosive devices detonated in three buses in the Israeli city. The first two bombs detonated within minutes of each other, and the third 15 minutes later. No casualties were reported. The buses had been parked after finishing their routes and it was a miracle that no one was hurt, the city's mayor Tzvika Brot said. Explosives were also found on two other buses but did not detonate, with bomb squads currently working to defuse them, a police spokesperson told Channel 13 TV. All five bombs were identical and equipped with timers. After the explosions, all bus drivers working for the operator were ordered to stop and conduct a 'thorough inspection' of their vehicles. Once found to be safe, their routes were resumed, chief of the bus company Ofir Karni said. All buses were subsequently halted across Israel, as police and military officers were dispatched to search for suspicious objects. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he was receiving updates from his military secretary. Police said the Shin Bet internal security agency was taking over the investigation. Investigators scoured for evidence amid the metal shells of the scorched buses, as the hunt for suspects got underway. It is unclear who is responsible. No group has definitively claimed responsibility for the attack. A group from Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, which claimed to be a branch of Hamas' military wing the Qassam Brigades, said on Telegram: "We will never forget to take vengeance for our martyrs as long as the occupation is on our lands." The group did not appear to be explicitly taking responsibility. According to local media, one of the unexploded devices held a message reading 'Revenge from Tulkarem'. The West Bank city has been a focus of Israel's intensified military assault since January. Police spokesman Haim Sargrof told Israel TV that authorities are working to 'determine if a single suspect placed explosives on a number of buses, or if there were multiple suspects'. The explosives matched those which have been used in the West Bank, Mr Sargrof said, without elaborating. What will Israel's response be? The Israeli prime minister's office has ordered Israeli forces to carry out an 'intensive operation against centres of terrorism' in the West Bank, according to a statement. 'The Prime Minister also ordered the Israel Police and the (Israel Security Agency) to increase preventative activity against additional attacks in Israeli cities,' the statement added. The military said 'intensified anti-terror activity' would continue in the West Bank. Israel's strengthened assault on West Bank towns and camps came after a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza on January 19. Since the offensive began on 21 January, at least 44 Palestinians including five children and two women have been killed in the Tulkarem, Jenin and Rubas governorates, with attacks centring particularly on the refugee camps, the UN's humanitarian office, OHCHR, said.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bus blasts near Tel Aviv are ‘suspected terror attack'
Explosions that rattled central Israel on Thursday are being treated as a suspected terror attack. Multiple buses were targeted in the city of Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, where three blasts went off and two more buses were found with undetonated explosives. No injuries were reported. The explosions happened on a day when Israel was already grieving after Hamas returned the bodies of four hostages from Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal. The bus explosions were reminiscent of bombings during the Palestinian uprising of the 2000s, but such attacks are now rare. Israeli police said the five bombs were identical and equipped with timers, and said bomb squads were defusing the unexploded bombs. Investigators in white coveralls searched for evidence inside the burned-out metal shells of the buses, which blew up in a car park. Bay Yam's mayor, Tzvika Brot, said it was a miracle no one was hurt. The buses had been parked after finishing their routes, he said. The head of the bus company said they immediately ordered all bus drivers to stop and conduct a 'thorough inspection'. They resumed their routes once they were found to be safe, Ofir Karni said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he was receiving updates from his military secretary and following the events. The Shin Bet internal security agency was taking over the investigation, police said. 'We need to determine if a single suspect placed explosives on a number of buses, or if there were multiple suspects,' police spokesman Haim Sargrof told Israeli TV. Mr Sargrof said the explosives used on Thursday matched explosives used in the West Bank, but he declined to elaborate. Israel's military has repeatedly carried out raids on suspected Palestinian militants in the West Bank since Hamas' Oct 7, 2023, attack sparked the devastating war in Gaza. As part of that crackdown, Israel has greatly restricted entry into Israel for Palestinians from the occupied territory. A group identifying itself as a branch of Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, from the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, posted on the messaging app Telegram: 'We will never forget to take vengeance for our martyrs as long as the occupation is on our lands.' The group did not appear to claim responsibility for the attack. Tulkarem and two refugee camps in the city have been a focus of Israel's broad military offensive in the West Bank since the ceasefire in Gaza took effect on Jan 19. The Israeli military said early on Friday it had imposed restrictions on Palestinian movement and sealed off parts of in the West Bank amid its ongoing security operations there. Mr Brot urged residents to stick with their routines but also stay vigilant, telling Channel 13 TV that schools will be open on Friday and public transport will be operating. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Bus blasts near Tel Aviv are ‘suspected terror attack'
Explosions that rattled central Israel on Thursday are being treated as a suspected terror attack. Multiple buses were targeted in the city of Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, where three blasts went off and two more buses were found with undetonated explosives. No injuries were reported. The explosions happened on a day when Israel was already grieving after Hamas returned the bodies of four hostages from Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal. The bus explosions were reminiscent of bombings during the Palestinian uprising of the 2000s, but such attacks are now rare. Israeli police said the five bombs were identical and equipped with timers, and said bomb squads were defusing the unexploded bombs. Investigators in white coveralls searched for evidence inside the burned-out metal shells of the buses, which blew up in a car park. Bay Yam's mayor, Tzvika Brot, said it was a miracle no one was hurt. The buses had been parked after finishing their routes, he said. The head of the bus company said they immediately ordered all bus drivers to stop and conduct a 'thorough inspection'. They resumed their routes once they were found to be safe, Ofir Karni said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he was receiving updates from his military secretary and following the events. The Shin Bet internal security agency was taking over the investigation, police said. 'We need to determine if a single suspect placed explosives on a number of buses, or if there were multiple suspects,' police spokesman Haim Sargrof told Israeli TV. Mr Sargrof said the explosives used on Thursday matched explosives used in the West Bank, but he declined to elaborate. Israel's military has repeatedly carried out raids on suspected Palestinian militants in the West Bank since Hamas' Oct 7, 2023, attack sparked the devastating war in Gaza. As part of that crackdown, Israel has greatly restricted entry into Israel for Palestinians from the occupied territory. A group identifying itself as a branch of Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, from the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, posted on the messaging app Telegram: 'We will never forget to take vengeance for our martyrs as long as the occupation is on our lands.' The group did not appear to claim responsibility for the attack. Tulkarem and two refugee camps in the city have been a focus of Israel's broad military offensive in the West Bank since the ceasefire in Gaza took effect on Jan 19. The Israeli military said early on Friday it had imposed restrictions on Palestinian movement and sealed off parts of in the West Bank amid its ongoing security operations there. Mr Brot urged residents to stick with their routines but also stay vigilant, telling Channel 13 TV that schools will be open on Friday and public transport will be operating.
Boston Globe
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
No injuries from Israeli bus explosions in suspected militant attack, police say
Investigators in white coveralls searched for evidence inside the burned-out metal shells of the buses, which blew up in a parking lot in Bat Yam, a city outside Tel Aviv. The city's mayor, Tzvika Brot, said it was a miracle no one was hurt. The buses had been parked after finishing their routes, he said. Advertisement The head of the bus company said they immediately ordered all bus drivers to stop and conduct a 'thorough inspection.' They resumed their routes once they were found to be safe, Ofir Karni said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he was receiving updates from his military secretary and following the events. The Shin Bet internal security agency was taking over the investigation, police said. 'We need to determine if a single suspect placed explosives on a number of buses, or if there were multiple suspects,' police spokesman Haim Sargrof told Israeli TV. People gather during a vigil hours after the bodies of four Israeli hostages, Shiri Bibas, her two children, Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz were handed over by Palestinian militant groups to Israel, in Tel Aviv. Ohad Zwigenberg/Associated Press Sargrof said the explosives used Thursday matched explosives used in the West Bank, but he declined to elaborate. Israel's military has repeatedly carried out raids on suspected Palestinian militants in the West Bank since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack sparked the devastating war in Gaza. As part of that crackdown, Israel has greatly restricted entry into Israel for Palestinians from the occupied territory. A group identifying itself as a branch of Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, from the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, posted on the messaging app Telegram: 'We will never forget to take vengeance for our martyrs as long as the occupation is on our lands.' The group did not appear to claim responsibility for the attack. Advertisement Tulkarem and two refugee camps in the city have been a focus of Israel's broad military offensive in the West Bank since the ceasefire in Gaza took effect on Jan. 19. The Israeli military said early Friday it had imposed restrictions on Palestinian movement and sealed off parts of in the West Bank amid its ongoing security operations there. Brot, the mayor of Bat Yam, urged residents to stick with their routines but also stay vigilant, telling Channel 13 TV that schools will be open Friday and public transport will be operating. Federman reported from Jerusalem.
