Three people killed in gangland blasts

AN Israeli gangland bombing that initially raised fears of a Palestinian suicide attack killed three people and wounded more than 19 others yesterday at a money-changer’s shop on a busy Tel Aviv street.

Zeev Rosenstein, who has survived four underworld attacks since 1996, was slightly wounded in the blast that blew out windows on busy Yehuda Halevy street in Israel's business capital.

"We are declaring war against the underworld and this will be a war we will win," national police commissioner Shlomo Aharonishky told reporters after yesterday's blast.

In scenes reminiscent of suicide bombings that have killed hundreds of Israelis in three years of violence, ambulances raced to the area and radio stations interrupted their regular broadcasts to report on the explosion.

"The target of the criminal attack was Zeev Rosenstein and the blast occurred when he left the shop," said Tel Aviv police district commander Yossi Sedbon. "He was injured along with his bodyguards."

Police said two people were killed immediately in the blast. A third victim died later in Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said it treated 26 wounded.

"Rosenstein was slightly injured, but he is all right and being treated in hospital," said his lawyer, Keren Nahari.

Mr Rosenstein was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of involvement in what police described as the killing of criminal rivals, but was released without charge.

Israelis have been rocked recently by gangland attacks that have missed their targets and killed bystanders instead.

A hand grenade tossed into a used car lot to back up protection demands killed an Israeli couple shopping for a vehicle last month in the northern city of Hadera.

A woman was killed in a Tel Aviv office building in August by a bomb meant for the owner of a check-cashing business.

Police suspect it was a settling of accounts between criminals. The last big Palestinian attack in Israel occurred on October 4 when a suicide bomber blew herself up in a crowded Israeli beach restaurant in Haifa, killing 23 other people. Palestinian factions failed last week to agree to terms on a ceasefire with Israel.