Three buses explode in Tel Aviv after Hamas releases hostages' bodies

(CLO) Three buses exploded in a parking lot in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Thursday night in a suspected terrorist attack, fortunately there were no casualties.

Several other bombs were also reportedly found on other buses, according to the TPS-IL news agency. Israel has ordered all bus and train services to be halted while all vehicles are checked for bombs following the incident.

The attack occurred Thursday night at around 8:30 p.m. as three buses were parked at a bus station in Bat Yam, a city just south of Tel Aviv. Firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. The buses were empty at the time and no one was injured.

Police examine a burning bus in Holon on Thursday night. Photo: GI/TPS-IL

Two other explosive devices were found under other buses after police and the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, asked the driver to stop the bus and check for explosives.

A preliminary police investigation determined that all the explosive devices were identical and were equipped with a timer set to detonate on Friday.

The explosions came just hours after Hamas released the bodies of four Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration that the country would take revenge and destroy Hamas.

"We need to determine whether one suspect placed explosives on several buses or whether there were several suspects," police spokesman Haim Sargrof said.

After a security assessment with Israeli officials, Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered "an intensive operation" against "terrorist centers" in the West Bank and asked authorities to "intensify preventive operations" against possible attacks in Israeli cities.

Following the bus bombing, Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to step up operations in the West Bank. "We will pursue the terrorists to the end," he said.

Huy Hoang (according to TPS-IL, Fox News, Guardian)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ba-xe-buyt-phat-no-o-tel-aviv-sau-khi-hamas-tra-thi-the-con-tin-israel-noi-se-truy-quet-khung-bo-post335433.html