Post by Salem6 on Dec 11, 2003 11:48:22 GMT
Two people are reported to have been killed by an explosion in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.
At least another 12 were injured by the blast at a money-exchange office in a shopping district.
According to a police officer at the scene, the attack appeared to be "criminally-motivated", and was not a terrorist attack.
Earlier reports said three had died, in a blast apparently targeting a local criminal leader, who was slightly hurt.
'Underworld' attack
The explosion happened at 1230 (1030 GMT) near the Aroma cafe on Yehuda Halevy street close to Allenby Street, damaging cars along the street.
At least 12 people were injured
"It was a tremendous, tremendous explosion," one witness told Israel Army Radio.
There were initial fears that the explosion was a suicide bomb attack.
But police then said that a local figure from the criminal underworld was slightly injured by the blast, leading them to suspect that he might have been the target.
Zev Rosenstein had entered the exchange office just before blast, eyewitnesses said.
"I saw him, he came to change money. As he went in, it exploded," one person told Israel Radio.
Mr Rosenstein's lawyer confirmed that his client had been at the scene.
He was recently released after being questioned by police about allegations that he ordered attacks on business rivals.
Police said that the accusations had proved unfounded.
Mr Rosenstein owns several casinos and has been the target of at least four attacks since 1996.
In July, he was slightly wounded by an explosion in the port area of the city.
Video:-
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39623000/rm/_39623673_telaviv12_plettdtl_vi.ram
At least another 12 were injured by the blast at a money-exchange office in a shopping district.
According to a police officer at the scene, the attack appeared to be "criminally-motivated", and was not a terrorist attack.
Earlier reports said three had died, in a blast apparently targeting a local criminal leader, who was slightly hurt.
'Underworld' attack
The explosion happened at 1230 (1030 GMT) near the Aroma cafe on Yehuda Halevy street close to Allenby Street, damaging cars along the street.
At least 12 people were injured
"It was a tremendous, tremendous explosion," one witness told Israel Army Radio.
There were initial fears that the explosion was a suicide bomb attack.
But police then said that a local figure from the criminal underworld was slightly injured by the blast, leading them to suspect that he might have been the target.
Zev Rosenstein had entered the exchange office just before blast, eyewitnesses said.
"I saw him, he came to change money. As he went in, it exploded," one person told Israel Radio.
Mr Rosenstein's lawyer confirmed that his client had been at the scene.
He was recently released after being questioned by police about allegations that he ordered attacks on business rivals.
Police said that the accusations had proved unfounded.
Mr Rosenstein owns several casinos and has been the target of at least four attacks since 1996.
In July, he was slightly wounded by an explosion in the port area of the city.
Video:-
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39623000/rm/_39623673_telaviv12_plettdtl_vi.ram