Police probe suspected grenade attack on Tel Aviv residential building

An explosion heard across northern Tel Aviv was caused by a suspected fragmentation grenade thrown at a residential tower, according to Hebrew media reports.

An explosion was heard across northern Tel Aviv in the early hours on Thursday, after a suspected fragmentation grenade was thrown at a residential tower in the upscale Park Tzameret neighborhood, according to Hebrew media reports. 

The blast was audible throughout the surrounding area, including Ramat Gan, and reportedly damaged the building's entrance.

“It was loud, but it did not sound like an impact or a grenade,” a local resident told Ynet. “Although it wasn’t close to me, I still heard it clearly.”

No injuries were reported following the explosion.

The Tel Aviv District police stated they have opened an investigation into the incident. The police stated that officers believe the incident has a criminal background.

Wave of grenade attacks

The incident follows a recent wave of similar grenade attacks in the greater Tel Aviv, central Israel area, on both residential buildings and varied locations of the Japanika restaurant chain, owned by businessman and Beitar Jerusalem owner Barak Abramov.

In July, over the course of several days, grenades were thrown, a pipe bomb was detonated, and shots were fired at the restaurant chain's branches in Netanya, Afula, Herzliya, Givatayim, Kiryat Ono, and Ramat Gan, resulting only in property damage.

Police are investigating the possibility that the attacks on Japanika are part of an escalation in the conflict between the Musli and Jarushi criminal organizations.

Sources familiar with the situation suggest that Abramov, who is not a suspect in the ongoing case, is perceived as being affiliated with elements of the Jarushi family, making the restaurant chain's branches targets of those connected to the Musli crime group.

According to unconfirmed reports, the background of this conflict involves a dispute over tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.

Shlomi Gabai, and Miriam Sela-Eitam contributed to this report.