3 killed in Tel Aviv explosion
Three people killed, several others wounded after explosion rocks southern Tel Aviv building; parts of building collapse following blast. Police estimate explosion caused by explosive device, criminally motivated
(VIDEO) An explosion rocked an apartment in a southern Tel Aviv building on Ben-Zvi Boulevard Wednesday morning, killing three people and lightly wounding five others.
Police officials estimate the blast was caused by an explosive device and was criminally motivated. Police and rescue forces were dispatched to the scene and evacuated the wounded. Investigators found traces of explosive materials at the scene and are looking into the circumstances of the blast.
Tel Aviv Police Commander Lieutenant David Tzur, speaking to reporters at the scene of the blast in Tel Aviv, said that according to first estimates the deadly explosion was probably a work accident by criminal elements.
“We are not blaming the incident on the various warring gangs. It’s a well-known fact that criminals have explosives. When we identify the bodies we will know better what we are dealing with,” he said.
Blast scene (Photo: Avi Cohen)
Scenes of destruction welcomed those approaching the building, after the blast damaged several apartments. The building has meanwhile been declared a “dangerous structure.” The force of the explosion scattered various belongings from apartment in the building across the street.
MDA paramedic Danny Selah said rescue forces found complete devastation in the third floor. “Because of the danger of collapse, the entire building was evacuated,” he said.
Police commander Moty Cohen said the blast occurred around 12:30 p.m. Police and rescue forces found great destruction in one third floor apartment, he said. Meanwhile, Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra arrived at the blast scene.
“It appears we are talking about explosive materials, but we cannot yet reject other possibilities,” he said. “There are three bodies at the scene. All leads are being looked into, but at this time it appears this was criminally motivated.”
Gadi Kider, who works in an office across the street, told Ynet: “We heard a very loud blast, and then we started looking where it came from…there are many ambulances, rescue forces are going in with stretchers, and there are several dozen police cruisers.”
A few months ago, a man was killed in a criminally motivated Jaffa blast after the explosive device he was preparing blew up.
