BICOM

A bus bomb exploded in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam yesterday afternoon, but the alert actions of a passenger and the bus driver averted any serious injuries or casualties.

A passenger spotted a suspicious unattended bag aboard the 240 bus and alerted the driver. When nobody claimed the bag, the driver called the police and evacuated the bus on the corners of Mivtza Sinai and Katznelson streets. Minutes later, the bomb exploded, lightly injuring a police patrolwoman who helped evacuate the bus. The explosion blew the windows out of the bus and charred its sides.

Cmdr. Nitzan Bozna, head of the Ayalon district police, described the bomb as medium-sized, but refused to divulge further details. Meanwhile, President Shimon Peres phoned the bus driver and thanked him for his actions, saying “The nation owes you a debt of gratitude.”

Israel Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said, “We confirm the explosion on the bus today was a terror attack, based on assessments and evidence gathered at the scene.” Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch concurred, saying “At this point in time we are under the impression that the incident was nationalistically motivated.” Although no group has taken responsibility for yesterday’s blast, Hamas spokesperson Moshir al-Masri said, “We welcome the operation in Tel Aviv,” while Islamic Jihad representative, Ahmed al-Mudallal told Al-Aqsa TV, “This is the appropriate way to deal with Israel.”

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki commented, “We strongly condemn the bombing…. Violent acts targeting civilians are deplorable. We reaffirm our unshakable bond with Israel and our solidarity with the Israeli people.”

Although yesterday’s attack was the first such explosion since November 2012, it comes against the backdrop of several serious violent incidents during the past three months.