Car bomb wounds Rehovot man in alleged underworld attack

By Yaakov Lappin

A powerful blast shook Rehovot in the early hours of Tuesday morning, when a bomb planted on a van exploded, seriously wounding its 25-year-old driver.


The scene of the powerful blast that shook Rehovot on Tuesday.
Photo: YAAKOV LAPPIN

SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World Police have described the attack as a criminal assassination attempt.

Tamir Amira, the wounded driver, was rushed to Rehovot's Kaplan hospital in serious condition, suffering from wounds to his limbs. His van was demolished in the explosion.

Police suspect that a large bomb was planted underneath the vehicle and may have been set off via remote control.

The police's Central District Central Unit, headed by Asst.-Cmdr. Avi Noiman, has been tasked with leading the investigation.

According to Central District Police chief Cmdr. Nissim Moor, Amira had a previous criminal record. "We are attempting to catch the culprits," he added.

A criminal feud centering on Rehovot's wholesale market, involving market stall owners and based on a dispute over protection money and the placement of security guards, appears to form the background of the bombing.

Amira sold potatoes at the market, and according to locals who live nearby, he and his older brother may be linked to the March 24 slaying of a man there.

In that attack, a 30-year-old man was shot in the head at close range in broad daylight. He died of his wounds in the hospital.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said he believed the bombing was a revenge attack for that killing.

"Why don't the authorities tackle crime like [former New York mayor Rudolph] Giuliani did?" the man asked.

"It's gotten to be like Chicago here," a woman added.

Source: JPost.com