Police treating the explosion as a criminal incident, part of Israel's gang wars.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: NOVEMBER 7, 2017 10:41 Fire rages in the city of Ashdod after a car exploded in a residential neighborhood (Courtesy MADA)
Two people were wounded and several vehicles caught fire Tuesday morning after a car blew up in the southern city of Ashdod, according to Israel police.Zaki Heller, spokesman for Magen David Adom, said a 45-year-old man was rushed to hospital in stable but severe condition and another 48-year-old man suffered moderate wounds. Both were taken to Asuta Hospital by Mada ambulances.Police and rescue services are on the scene scanning for additional injured and trying to determine the cause of the blast.According to reports in Hebrew media, the blast was an attempted assassination, part of Israel's gang wars and the victims were member of a local crime organization.United Hatzalah volunteer EMT, Avi Bahar, who lives nearby and was one of the first responders on scene said: "I was with my family outside our home when I heard the explosion. The explosion was followed immediately by billowing smoke rising from in between the buildings ... I raced over to the building arriving in just a few moments and began treating two people who were injured and lying near the entrance to one of the buildings near the explosion."