Dozens injured in Israeli town attack

Gunmen opened fire today at passengers at an Israeli bus station and at a nearby office of Premier Ariel Sharon’s Likud Party where members were voting in the leadership election.

Police in the northern town of Beit Shean said there were casualties, and one witness said some people were killed.

Israel Radio said dozens of people were hit.

A gun battle erupted on the street, with police and armed bystanders firing at the attackers.

First reports said two gunmen were killed. A third was holed up in a house opposite the Likud branch, occasionally firing at the office. Security forces ringed the house.

At least one of the gunmen also wore a suicide bomber’s explosives belt that did not go off.

‘‘There are dead here,’’ said witness Yitzhak Avraham, adding that grenades were thrown by the assailants.

Police also found a stolen car near the bus station and were checking it for explosives, radio reports said.