Arab man killed, another seriously injured in apparent car bombing

Police rule out terrorism, investigating as criminal matter.

NOVEMBER 16, 2017 08:30

Updated: NOVEMBER 17, 2017 01:12

Massive car explosion at Israel's Ayalon Highway

An Arab man in his 30s was killed and another seriously wounded in a car explosion on the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv on Thursday morning, in what police are investigating as a criminal matter.

According to the Israel Police, the explosion went off in the vehicle car - rying both passengers shortly after midnight near the KKL Interchange in northern Tel Aviv, shutting down the southbound lanes of the highway as firefighters put out the blaze and cleared the scene.

Scene of car explosion at Ayalon Highway

The murdered man was identified as Abed al-Hafez Ar’ar of Jaljulya, located near Kfar Saba. He was pro- nounced dead at the scene.

The wounded man, identified as Ali Amar, of Kafr Kasim, located 20 km. east of Tel Aviv, sustained severe head trauma. Amar, who is also in his 30s, was rushed by Magen David Adom para- medics to Ichilov Hospital at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv. While police have released few details amid an investigation, spokes- man Micky Rosenfeld said on Thurs- day that terrorism was ruled out.

“We confirmed that this was a criminal assassination and the inves- tigation is looking into who was behind it,” said Rosenfeld. “Bomb and forensics experts were at the scene to gather evidence.”

Israeli media reported that both targets have criminal records and his- tories of violence in their families.

Ar’ar’s brother, Fadi Ar’ar, was shot dead two years ago, while Amar’s father and brother were killed in a shooting five months ago, Ynet reported.