Fragmentation grenades and gunfire at buildings: crime families run wild also in central Israel

A wave of serious criminal incidents in central Israel: fragmentation grenades were thrown in Bat Yam, Or Yehuda, Kiryat Ono, and Rishon LeZion, alongside gunfire at a residential building. Police are investigating a suspected link between the incidents; the background is criminal. No casualties have been reported.

A wave of serious criminal incidents occurred overnight in central Israel, in what appears to be a spillover of severe crime from the north and south to the heart of the country. Fragmentation grenades were thrown at buildings in Bat Yam, Or Yehuda, Kiryat Ono, and Rishon LeZion. In Or Yehuda, a report of an explosion was received, and police opened an investigation. In Rishon LeZion, shortly after a fragmentation grenade was thrown, sounds of gunfire were heard at a residential building on Sha'ar Yafo Street, causing damage to the lobby. In Kiryat Ono, a fragmentation grenade was thrown at the "Japanika" restaurant, and in Kiryat Gat, a grenade was thrown at a residential home, where gas balloons were damaged. In all incidents, no casualties were reported. Police are checking a suspected link between the incidents and examining whether they are all connected to the same criminal conflict. The investigations are in their early stages.