Three killed in Israel bus bomb

At least three people were killed and 28 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus in northern Israel at the beginning of the morning rush hour today, officials and Israel radio station said.

Israel Army Radio said the explosion occurred at an intersection on a main east-west highway near the large Israeli Arab town of Um el-Fahm.

Area police commander Yaakov Borovski said: ‘‘This is a serious incident with many casualties.’’ He said the bus was ‘‘relatively full’’.

The blast went off just after 7am local time (5am Irish time).

‘‘We’re talking about a very grave attack,’’ said Danny, a witness who was driving in a car behind the bus. He gave only his first name in a brief radio interview.

The bus was travelling from Tel Aviv to the northern city of Nazareth when a suicide bomber got on at a stop near an Arab village and blew himself up soon after, police told Israel Radio.

‘‘We’re talking about suicide bomber that got on at nearby station and then blew himself up,’’ said Mr Borovski. ‘‘There are more than a few injuries, and they are heavy and apparently we have dead as well.’’

The blast comes as Israelis and Palestinians were attempting to work out a ceasefire under the mediation of US envoy Anthony Zinni.

It was not immediately clear how the bombing would effect the talks, though in the past, such attacks have led to the collapse of negotiations.