Tel Aviv suspected terror attack: Three buses explode in Bat Yam, Israel, authorities search for more devices

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the IDF to carry out attacks after three public buses exploded in a suspected terror attack on Israel.

The explosions occurred in Bat Yam a suburb of Tel Aviv. It is understood that two buses exploded simultaneously before a third bus later exploded.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement late on Thursday saying: “Following the attempt to perpetrate a chain of mass bus bombings, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just completed a security assessment with the Defence Minister, the IDF Chief-of-Staff, the ISA Director and the Israel Police Inspector General, and has ordered the IDF to carry out an intensive operation against centres of terrorism in Judea and Samaria.

“The Prime Minister also ordered the Israel Police and the ISA to increase preventative activity against additional attacks in Israeli cities. “

The buses, which had been in service transporting Israelis just minutes before the explosions, had just returned to their depot empty just before the blasts.

Local police said: “Miraculously, the buses arrived at the parking lots a moment before the explosion.”

All public transport services in Israel, including trains, buses and light rail trains have been cancelled by the Government.

All buses in the Tel Aviv metro area are currently being searched for additional devices.

Video shared to social media showed fire and smoke billowing into the air as an exploded bus continued to burn.

“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.

Tzvika Brot, mayor of Bat Yam, said it was a miracle no one was hurt.

The empty buses had finished their routes and were in a parking lot, he said.

Mr Sargrof said the explosives matched explosives used in the West Bank, but he declined to elaborate.

Israel has repeatedly carried out military raids on suspected Palestinian militants in the West Bank since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack sparked the devastating war in Gaza.

As part of that crackdown, it has greatly restricted entry into Israel for Palestinians from the occupied territory.

A group identifying itself as a branch of Hamas’ military wing, Qassam Brigades, from the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, posted on messaging app Telegram: “We will never forget to take vengeance for our martyrs as long as the occupation is on our lands.”

The city of Tulkarem and two refugee camps in the city have been a focus of recent Israeli army raids.

Since the ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza took effect on January 19, Israel has been conducting a broad military offensive in the West Bank.

Brot, the mayor, urged the public to keep their routines, saying schools would be open on Friday and public transport would operate.

More to come...