Police confirms Tel Aviv explosion was failed terror attack

Police and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) confirmed on Monday that the Sunday night explosion in Tel Aviv was a terrorist attack carried out via a powerful explosive device.

The police and Shin Bet further added that the alertness levels had been raised throughout Gush Dan, and searches were being carried out in the area. 

According to Israeli media on Monday, the terrorist came from the West Bank. 

On Monday morning, Haim Bobalil, Police commander of the Ayalon area of Tel Aviv, said that, following an assessment, the police believed it was a terrorist threat. "It was a miracle that it did not explode in the nearest synagogue or in the shopping center. It could have ended in dozens of deaths."

"Dozens of calls were received by the emergency center, reporting a loud explosion and body parts scattered on Lehi Street," according to Central District Commander Perez Ammar at around 8 p.m. He further added that when police forces arrived at the scene, they "noticed a mutilated body and signs of an explosion on the wall."

Police initially said they were "having difficulty identifying the body," but said that the person killed was "not an innocent civilian, but rather the person who was carrying the explosive device. Whether this is criminal or terrorism-related, it's too early to say," Amer emphasized.

Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics said they found an unconscious body with multiple systemic injuries, and later pronounced him dead.

In addition, a 33-year-old man was moderately wouneded. MDA paramedics provided the individual medical treatment and evacuated him to Sourasky Medical Center with shrapnel injuries to his limbs and chest.

Several possibilities examined 

Large police forces and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) were also at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation as all possibilities were being examined, including a criminal incident or a terror attack.

MDA paramedic Nitzan Faraj said: "We were called to the scene due to citizens who heard a loud explosion. When we arrived, we saw the truck on fire, and next to it, a man about 50 years old was lying unconscious with severe multi-system injuries. After medical tests, he was without a pulse, and all we had to do was pronounce him dead on the spot."