Incendiary balloon detonates in Netivot, no injuries reported

Police received reports of a balloon with an unidentified object attached landing near a group of children who were playing outside.

Evidence of the exploded device in Netivot  (photo credit: COURTESY ISRAEL POLICE)
Evidence of the exploded device in Netivot
(photo credit: COURTESY ISRAEL POLICE)
An incendiary balloon, which was launched from Gaza, landed in Netivot and detonated on Tuesday evening, according to Israel Police.
Police received reports of a balloon with an unidentified object attached landing near a group of children who were playing outside.
After a preliminary investigation, police concluded that the object was an explosive device that detached itself from a balloon.
When bomb squad arrived at the scene, the area was sealed off by the police, allowing the them to inspect the remains of the exploded object.
No casualties were reported. 
Given the increasing number of similar events in recent weeks, the police stress that if an identified object is spotted it must not be touched. Instead, anyone who sees the object should call the police and keep a distance from it.