BICOM

Four people were killed and over 90 injured early this morning in an explosion in a 5-storey apartment block in the town of Netanya. The circumstances of the explosion have yet to be conclusively determined, but the first estimates are that it was caused by a gas leak. Large-scale damage was caused to the building and to surrounding structures in the area of Herzl Street, near Netanya’s Independence Square. Those killed included two women in their 40s, a man in his 20s and a 51 year old man. Many of the injured were French tourists. Police received a complaint on Thursday afternoon after a man was seen loitering close to the building’s gas tanks. Police spoke to the man but did not arrest him. The man was arrested following the explosion. Further details are not yet available.