Explosion tears through Israel supermarket
An explosion ripped through a shopping mall in central Israel today, and police said they suspected it was a terrorist attack.
Israel Radio reported casualties in the blast in the town of Rosh Haayin.
Army Radio said the blast was caused by a suicide bomber, who died in the explosion.
There were at least four other casualties, Israel’s rescue service said. Army Radio said seven people were hurt.
Police had been on high alert in the area following warnings of an impending attack in central Israel.
Violence has fallen sharply since the main Palestinian militant groups declared a ceasefire on June 29.
The last suicide attack in Israel was on July 7, when a bomber blew himself up in a house in the centre of the country, killing an elderly women.
The blast sparked a large fire in the supermarket, and firefighters in breathing equipment pulled casualties out of the shattered store.
Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner condemned the “murderous attack” and said he held the Palestinian leadership responsible.
“This is the result of the inaction on the part of the Palestinian Authority,” he said. “They have not dismantled terrorist organisations.”
