Eight dead in Haifa bus blast

At least eight people have died in a bus bombing in Haifa in Israel, rescue officials said today.

Israeli media reports said there were many casualties.

The explosion occurred on a main street, said Haifa police chief Yak Borovsky. Bodies and wreckage were strewn across the street.

"The scenes are horrific here, twisted metal, it is very difficult to look at," a witness told Israel Radio.

A Palestinian bomb attack was immediately suspected.

Witness said the explosion ripped off the roof of the bus. Other reports said the bus was completely destroyed in the blast, which occurred in the Carmelia district.

“The entire roof was destroyed ... the entire bus went up in flames,” said a witness.

It was the first terror attack in Israel since January.