Terrorist behind failed Tel Aviv bus bombing and Jewish Israeli driver arrested

The main suspect was initially held in an Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) facility and later transferred to the Israel Prison Service. He has complained about harsh detention conditions, claiming he is held in darkness and denied proper treatment.

Authorities continue to investigate possible accomplices.

Three buses exploded near Tel Aviv and bombs were found on two others on the night of Feb. 20 in what is being investigated as a coordinated attack.

All of the explosions occurred in parked, empty buses across Bat Yam. There were no injuries.

At least one of the bombs bore a note, in Arabic and Hebrew, that stated “Revenge from the Tulkarem refugee camp,” a reference to the town in the West Bank where Israeli security forces have been conducting operations.

Five explosive devices, all with timers set to go off simultaneously, were found in what was intended to be a “strategic terrorist attack,” Channel 12 cited security sources as saying.

Two additional buses in nearby Holon were discovered with identical bombs that failed to detonate.

An Israeli commuter—26-year-old Adi Jegna—notified the driver of a suspicious package on her bus to Bat Yam, which turned out to be a bomb. He let the passengers off, drove to a safe place, and exited the bus. Moments later, the bomb exploded, destroying the bus.