Israel Matzav

Liveblog: Terror attack in Netanya? UPDATE: Probably not

Israel Radio is reporting on a terror attack in Netanya with at least three dead and 12 wounded. Liveblog coming here (Hat Tip: NR (daughter # 2 child # 4)).

UPDATE 1:10 AM

Israel Radio says that there was an explosion in a four-story building in Independence Square. Apparently an explosion of a gas balloon - they're not sure yet what caused the explosion. Independence Square is the center of Netanya - it's around the block from where Mrs. Carl and I were last night. The Yotvata restaurant in the area has apparently been destroyed. Twenty people now injured.

UPDATE 1:13 AM
Picture from YNet.

UPDATE 1:15 AM

Magen David Adom says 33 casualties being treated, including the three dead. Still a lot of people trapped in the building. Most wounded light, but three people moderately wounded. Going to Laniado (Netanya), Hillel Yaffe (Hadera) and Meir (Kfar Saba) hospitals.

UPDATE 1:18 AM

From YNet:

The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Meanwhile, police have launched a hunt for a vehicle seen escaping the scene shortly after the blast. Large police forces were also looking into reports that two people fled the scene.

Residents in the area said that the front of the residential building collapsed. Some residents were evacuated from the scene. Officials feared that the building may completely collapse, with rescue forces working frantically to clear all residents and keep away curious passersby.

IDF Home Front Command forces were also dispatched to the scene as part of the rescue effort. Firefighters from across the Sharon region also rushed to the area.

Netanya residents told Ynet that a huge blast shook the area, with smoke billowing above the explosion site. The Magen David Adom ambulance service declared the explosion a multi-casualty event.

Or it might 'just' be a gas explosion. But in this country, we always assume the worst until proven otherwise.

UPDATE 1:24 AM

Israel Radio interviewing firefighter. They're assuming it's a gas explosion, but not discounting other possibilities. Restaurants downstairs, apartments upstairs, busy night on Thursday (first night of weekend). Now checking for people trapped inside. They don't know yet how many people are inside. They have gotten out everyone they saw. Severe damage to building. For now they're assuming it was a gas explosion but not discounting terror possibility.

Police believe it was a gas explosion and not a terror attack but not sure yet. This is based on scope and radius of explosion. They think they have found the source of the explosion. Not yet discounting other possibilities. For now, not treating this as a terror attack.

UPDATE 1:38 AM

Police now saying absolutely that the explosion was caused by an explosion of a gas balloon. It's not clear yet what caused the gas balloon to explode. The police are saying it's definitely NOT a terror attack.

UPDATE 2:59 AM

Israel Radio is now reporting that an Israeli Jew has been arrested and charged with trying to steal a gas pipe in the building. The Israeli Jew was arrested this afternoon, released, and apparently returned to the building to try to finish stealing the pipe tonight.

Some of the restaurants and stores in the building belong to the Abutbul organized crime family.

A fourth person has now died from the explosion and more than 50 are now being treated for injuries.

Yes, we have our Darwin award recipients too.

Labels: Palestinian terrorism

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:06 AM