Three buses were destroyed in quick succession in parking lots in the Tel Aviv suburbs of Bat Yam and Holon on Thursday night, in what authorities are investigating as a suspected terror attack.
There were no reports of injuries. Police discovered two additional unexploded devices on buses nearby, with media reports indicating they were found in Holon.
Authorities are currently searching the area for suspects, with bomb disposal experts working to identify any other suspicious objects in the vicinity.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev has instructed the head of the Transportation Authority to suspend service and conduct thorough searches of buses, trains, and light rails. Regev was reportedly cutting her visit to Morocco short in response to the incident.
Tel Aviv District police chief Haim Sargarof stated that the devices were improvised explosives with timers, and the attack “appears to be linked to the West Bank.” He also mentioned that there were inscriptions on the devices, likely referring to reports of a threat linked to the West Bank city of Tulkarem, though he did not confirm how many suspects were involved.
Channel 12 reported that the devices were intended to explode on Friday, when the buses were in use, but detonated early. One of the undetonated devices was found after a passenger alerted the driver to a suspicious bag.
The Bat Yam Municipality issued a statement saying that “miraculously, the buses arrived at the parking lots just before the explosion” and were empty when the blasts occurred.
A Telegram channel, allegedly representing Hamas's Tulkarem Battalion, claimed responsibility for the attack, with a statement hinting at revenge for fallen militants and framing the act as a "jihad of either victory or martyrdom."
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