Suspected terror attack on Bat Yam bus

By BEN HARTMAN, JPOST.COM STAFF

LAST UPDATED: 12/22/2013 16:05

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Passengers spot suspicious item on Dan bus 240 and alert police; bomb explodes moments after passengers evacuate bus; one police officer lightly injured from blast noise.

A bomb detonated at the back of a bus in Bat Yam on Sunday afternoon, Bat Yam Police said.

Passengers on Dan 240 bus that goes from the Bnei Brak to Bat Yam cemetery noticed a suspicious package at the back of the bus at the corner of Mivtza Sinai and Katznelson streets in Bat Yam.  They alerted police, who sent sappers to the scene.

Both passengers and drivers were evacuated from the bus and were 15 meters away from the blast.

The bomb, that was in a medium sized bag, went off before police sappers had a chance to defuse it.

One policeman was lightly injured in his ear from the blast noise.

Police are saying that while they are not yet sure if the motive was criminal or nationalist, they are suspecting a terror attack.

The head of the Bat Yam Police does not know if there are other bombs suspected, and police has asked the public to keep their eyes open and notify the police of any suspicious packages.