Bat-Yam: Crime figure killed in makeshift bomb blast

A man was killed and two others were wounded Thursday afternoon in an explosion at an auto body shop in the central Israel city of Bat-Yam.

The incident is believed criminal and according to initial details, a pipe bomb the three were making detonated prematurely.

The three were later identified as Shlomi Vazana, who was killed by the explosion, Shimon Kaduri, who was severely injured and Gil Batit, who suffered critical injuries.  

Vazana was known to the police and was previously prosecuted for trading in explosives. Kaduri's record includes various arms offences and Batit's priors include robbery charges.

The explosion took place around 5 pm at an auto body shop on Ort Yisrael Street. Eyewitnesses said the shop was severely damaged, adding that a fire erupted at the scene immediately after the explosion.

The auto body shop's owner told police he did not know the men, and investigators examined a Jaguar parked nearby which belongs to the man who carried the bomb into the shop. 

Scene of explosion in Bat-Yam (Photo: Dana Koppel)

Eyewitnesses also reported seeing crime figure Motti Hassin at the scene prior to the explosion. The police began a manhunt for Hassin, eventually catching up with him in Rishon Lezion. 

The apartment he was found in was searched and Hassin was taken into custody, as was the apartment's owner, Yossi Castro.

Hassin was affiliated with the Abergil crime syndicate at one point, but according to the police, he had struck out on his own several years ago. Vazana and Kaduri are believed to be associates of Hassin's.

The latter's attorney, Moshe Suchemi, denied his client's involvement in the case: "It is regrettable that the police are rushing to tie Motti Hassin to every crime which takes place in the area. It is high time that they do their job and prevent crime, instead of speculating."

Attorney Eyal Ohayon, for Castro, also denied his client's involvement in the incident.