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Explosions set three buses ablaze in separate parking lots in Bat Yam and Holon on Thursday evening, prompting a large police response and raising suspicions of a coordinated bombing attack. No injuries were reported.
Authorities said the first explosion occurred at a bus depot near Bat Yam’s stadium, followed by another blast at a nearby lot. A third explosion was later reported at a depot near Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.
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Fire breaks out at Bat Yam bus depot after mysterious explosion
Following the blasts, police discovered an unexploded charge attached to a bus in Bat Yam, heightening concerns of a broader attack. The device, weighing five kilograms, bore Arabic writing.
Tel Aviv District Police Commander Chaim Sargrof said "The explosive devices were found with timers. I can say they were crude; they appear to be from the West Bank."
Sargrof added, "This is an incident occurring simultaneously at multiple locations. As of now, searches on trains and buses have been completed, and we are working to determine how many suspects are involved."
A Hamas military unit in the West Bank suggested that it was behind the explosions. "The revenge of the martyrs will not be forgotten as long as the occupier remains on our land. This is a jihad of victory or martyrdom," the Tulkarm Battalion of Hamas said in a statement.
A security guard at one of the sites reported the first explosion at 8:30 p.m., saying a bus immediately caught fire. Firefighters from the Bat Yam station quickly brought the flames under control, while bomb disposal experts began investigating the source of the blasts.
Following the incidents, Transportation Minister Miri Regev ordered a temporary halt to all buses, heavy rail and light rail services.
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Burnt-out wreckage of bus after explosion in Bat Yam
(Photo: Fire and Rescue Services)
Regev, who was in Morocco at the time, held a security assessment with ministry officials and law enforcement. "Following the situation assessment, the minister instructed the head of the Public Transportation Authority to halt all train and bus operations, follow police and security directives and resume services in accordance with guidance from the Shin Bet and police," a ministry statement said.
Bus drivers nationwide were instructed to pull over at the nearest stations and inspect their vehicles for suspicious objects.
"We call on all bus drivers nationwide to follow security instructions and established protocols, conducting thorough inspections of their buses while maintaining maximum vigilance. Any additional unusual incidents must be reported immediately to security forces," the National Bus Drivers' Union said in a statement.
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Large police forces were deployed to the area, and Israel Police Commissioner Dani Levi arrived at one of the scenes to receive real-time updates from security forces. Authorities have launched searches for suspects and additional suspicious objects.
"We urge the public to avoid the affected areas and remain alert for suspicious items," police said in a statement.
The Bat Yam Municipality confirmed that no passengers were on board the affected buses. "The details of the incident are still unclear, and we are conducting searches and taking precautionary measures to ensure there is no further danger," officials said.
Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot, who arrived at the scene with senior police officials and municipal security teams, urged residents to stay away from the area. "All emergency teams are here, including municipal emergency responders," Brot said. "I ask residents not to approach the scene as investigations are ongoing."
In response to the explosions, light rail services in Bat Yam were temporarily suspended. Authorities continue to investigate the incidents.