Lawyer killed in Tel Aviv blast

Criminally motivated blast: A car explosion on Tel Aviv’s Yigal Alon Street killed one of Israel's most well known criminal lawyers Wednesday evening. The victim's identity could not be established immediately because of the body's condition.

The lawyer was later identified as 53-year-old Yoram Haham from Tel Aviv. Haham, who was divorced and a father of four daughters, has represented some reputed mobsters during his career. 

Tel Aviv Police District officials said that Haham made quite a few enemies over the years and added that they expect the investigation into his murder to be a tough one.

"In recent years, crime organizations have no red lines…the police are trying to keep up with their pace," a police source said.

Jeep exploded Wednesday evening (Photo: Avi Cohen)

Earlier, police sources said that the motive for the murder was believed to be criminal. Magen David Adom paramedics pronounced Haham dead at the scene.

The jeep that exploded was traveling on Yigal Alon Street at around 6:45 pm. When the vehicle passed near the Magen David Adom ambulance service center on the street, a loud explosion shook the area. The jeep subsequently hit another car at the scene.

The blast caused a scare in the area and prompted people on the street to flee. An eyewitness told Ynet that initially the source of the explosion was unclear.

"At first we thought it was a terror attack, yet we saw the vehicle completely pulverized and a man lying inside. Magen David Adom members arrived at the scene quickly and started treating him," he said.

Paramedic Alon Friedman said that he heard a loud blast and immediately headed to the vehicle that exlpoded.

"We found a man lying dead in the car," he said. "He was an older man, in his 50s. He suffered bruises and massive bleeding."

Police sappers who arrived at the scene following the blast examined the area and made sure there were no other bombs in the vicinity.

Tel Aviv District Police Commander, Major-General Ilan Franco, said that the blast was "a severe incident and will be treated as such."

Raanan Ben-Zur contributed to the report