Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported on Friday: “Two Israelis were arrested overnight into Friday on suspicion of involvement in the explosions that took place on empty buses in two Tel Aviv suburbs.”
The identities of the detainees or the role they are suspected of playing have not yet been revealed, as Israeli Channel 12 reported earlier on Friday, noting that one of them: “Is suspected of transporting one of the perpetrators to the city of Bat Yam,” where the bombings took place.
“The two suspects have been transferred to the Shin Bet security agency for interrogation, though a court has issued a gag order on further details of the affair,” it added.
Ynet reported: “On Friday, reports indicated that the Israeli Internal Security Service arrested three suspects accused of helping to plant explosive devices on buses in the Tel Aviv area, in what authorities believe was a failed terrorist attack.”
The website, which is the electronic version of the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, added: “It was also reported that some of the detainees were identified as Israeli Jews.”
On Thursday, the Israeli police announced that explosions had occurred on several buses in the areas of Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. The background and circumstances of the incident are being examined.
The Israeli police disclosed in a statement that it: “Received reports of explosions on a (unspecified) number of buses in the city of Bat Yam,” citing that the police are examining the possibility that the explosions were the result of a “potential attack”.
Israeli media, including the official broadcasting authority and Yedioth Ahronoth, stated that there were two explosions in two areas, leading to a fire on two buses.
