Man seriously injured as motorbike explodes in apparent Ramat Gan underworld bombing

A man was seriously injured Sunday when a motorcycle exploded on a street in Ramat Gan.

The explosion was thought to be either an organized crime bombing or a so-called “work accident” in which the wounded individual was transporting the device.

The blast happened on Rashi Street in the Tel Aviv suburb.

The motorcycle rider, 28, was taken to Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

He was not immediately publicly identified by police.

Five other people, reportedly passersby, were lightly injured in the blast, with some of them requiring hospital treatment.

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Startled residents were seen fleeing the scene of the explosion close to a row of shops, Channel 12 reported.

According to the network, the injured man is an acquaintance of a criminal figure known to police.

The outlet said the bombing was apparently part of an ongoing battle between the crime families of Naor Sukar and his rival Itay Haham. The feud, which has continued for several months, has already seen eight previous shootings, bombing incidents and attempted killings.

“There was a really strong blast and at first I thought it was shrapnel or a rocket,” Jennifer Leviev, who lives near the scene of Sunday’s explosion, told reporters. “It was really frightening.”

Two days ago an explosive device went off at the entrance to the home of Haham’s father, causing damage but no injuries, the report said.

Haham himself was arrested several days ago on suspicion that he sought to place a bomb near the home of Sukar’s parents, who also live in Ramat Gan. He is also suspected of shooting at the home in revenge for an attempt on his life, the report said. Haham was later released from custody.

A surge in mob violence in recent months has seen dozens of shootings and bombings attributed to battling crime families.

The soaring crimewave comes amid growing calls for the removal of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who is in charge of the police, from his position.