Explosion hits bus in central Tel Aviv, 10 wounded
Israeli prime minister's spokesman condemns blast as 'terror attack'
A bomb exploded on a bus in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday, wounding at least 10 people in what officials said was a terrorist attack that could complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The blast shattered windows on the bus, which was driving along a tree-lined street next to Israel’s huge defence ministry complex. Israel’s ambulance service said three of the wounded were in a severe condition.
“This was a terrorist attack,” said Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a message on Twitter, he said police were combing the area for the person who planted the device, confirming reports that it was not a suicide attack. Israeli media said a man had been arrested.
The bombing happened on the eighth day of an Israeli offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and celebratory gunfire rang out across the Palestinian enclave when local radio stations reported news of the explosion.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri praised the bombing, but stopped short of claiming responsibility.