Three empty buses exploded in Bat Yam and Holon, Tel Aviv suburbs, in what police suspect was a strategically planned terror attack on Thursday night. The explosions occurred in quick succession in parking lots, but no injuries were reported. Authorities discovered two more unexploded devices nearby, which were safely neutralized. Each device contained 5 kilograms of explosives.
Initial reports suggest the bombs, which were set to go off on Friday morning, detonated prematurely due to a timer malfunction. Police believe the attack was orchestrated by a terror cell from the West Bank, citing a possible link to a “revenge” message found on one of the devices. Israeli security forces, including the IDF and Shin Bet, are actively investigating the incident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered increased security measures in Israeli cities and a surge in IDF operations in the West Bank, targeting terror hubs. Security was ramped up at transport terminals, including Ben Gurion Airport and the Jerusalem light rail, to prevent further attacks.