2 killed in car explosion near Petah Tikva; police suspect underworld hit

The car was traveling on Route 5 and exploded when it stopped at the junction; reports that blast caused by explosive device

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Car explosion at Yarkonim Junction 370 (photo credit: Courtesy MDA)
Car explosion at Yarkonim Junction 370
(photo credit: Courtesy MDA)
Two people were killed Thursday night when the car they were traveling in blew up at the Yarkonim Junction near Petah Tikva on Route 5. The police placed a gag order on the incident.
The car was traveling on Route 5 and exploded when it stopped at the junction
An additional vehicle was hit by shrapnel from the car. A man and a woman from the second vehicle were lightly injured.
MDA paramedics pronounced the two victims dead on the scene.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. Firefighters were on the scene putting out the fire in the vehicle caused by the blast.
The YAMAR special investigative unit's central district branch was investigating the incident.
Ben Hartman contributed to this report.