Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Palestinian militant groups claim bombing in Tel Aviv

Hamas and another Palestinian militant group have claimed responsibility for what appeared to be a failed bombing attack in Tel Aviv that killed the man carrying the bomb and wounded a bystander

Via AP news wire
Monday 19 August 2024 08:14 EDT

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Hamas and another Palestinian militant group claimed responsibility Monday for what appeared to be a failed bombing attack in Tel Aviv that killed the man carrying the bomb and wounded a bystander.

The blast, which came as mediators were working on a cease-fire agreement in the devastating Israel-Hamas war, was a stark reminder of the rash of Palestinian suicide bombings that killed hundreds of Israelis during the second intifada two decades ago. The militant groups claiming the blast said they intended to launch more.

In the explosion on Sunday night, the bomb appeared to go off before it was intended. The presumed attacker was shown in security footage walking down the street wearing a large backpack just before the explosion.

Israeli media quoted police officials as saying the intended target might have been a nearby synagogue.

In a statement Monday, Hamas’ militant wing said it and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s militant wing were responsible for the blast and threatened to continue attacking “as long as the occupation’s massacres, displacement of civilians, and the continuation of the assassination policy continues.”

Israeli police and its Shin Bet security agency said in a joint statement the blast was a terror attack that involved “a powerful explosive.” They did not identify the attacker or give a motive.

“We know that the mutilated body is not that of an innocent bystander but the one who carried the bomb,” Tel Aviv's district police commander, Deputy Commissioner Peretz Amar, said.

___

Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in