Israelis fear mob war as mafia kingpin killed

A CAR carrying one of Israel’s top mafia kingpins exploded as it travelled in central Tel Aviv, killing him and threatening to unleash an all-out war in Israel’s increasingly violent underworld.

Israeli police officials identified the dead man as Yaakov Alperon, known informally as “Don Alperon”, head of one of the country’s most powerful crime families. The bloodied body was wearing the same polo shirt Alperon was seen sporting earlier in the day at a Tel Aviv courthouse.

Medics said three bystanders, including a 13-year-old boy were also lightly wounded in the explosion.