3 buses explode in suspected terror attack near Tel Aviv: Israeli police
Three buses exploded near Tel Aviv on Thursday in what Israeli police are calling a suspected coordinated terror attack, according to the country's Police Spokesperson's Unit.
The buses where the bombs exploded were empty and in separate parking lots about 500 meters apart from each other, the mayor of Bat Yam, where the incident occurred, said. Bat Yam is on Israel's southern coast and is just south of Tel Aviv.
There were no injuries from the explosions, police said.
Another bomb was also found undetonated on a separate bus, according to an update from the police spokesman Thursday. Officials had previously said there were two undetonated bombs discovered.
The explosive devices resembled bombs that Israeli police have seen in the West Bank, the spokesman said.
One person has been arrested, according to Israeli police, which provided no further details on the individual.
Police said they found a written note with one of the bombs, that read: "Revenge against the Tulkarm camp," referring to the Israeli operation in the West Bank last week, ABC News confirmed.
In total, four explosive devices have been found -- three devices went off and one device failed.
Sources briefed on the preliminary investigation told ABC News, officials believe a coordinated terror attack was planned for Friday morning to coincide with the pre-Sabbath rush when buses in Israel are typically crowded. For some reason, at least one device went off too early, sources said.
"Multiple reports have been received of explosions involving several buses at different locations in Bat Yam. Large police forces are at the scenes, searching for suspects. Police bomb disposal units are scanning for additional suspicious objects," the Israeli Police Spokesperson's Unit said in an initial response to the incident.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is "temporarily prohibiting" government employees and their families from using public buses and light rail across Israel for the next 14 days, a security alert from the embassy said Friday.
The Israel Security Agency, known as the Shin Bet, is now involved in the investigation, police confirmed to ABC News.
Police were searching the immediate area for additional planted bombs on buses and urged the public to avoid the areas and remain alert for any suspicious items.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is receiving "regular updates" from his military secretary, the Israeli Prime Minister's office said in a statement Thursday.
