Explosion in Holon Injures Teen, Police Seek Suspect Linked to Crime Boss

An explosive device detonated on Sanhedrin Street in Holon's Jessy Cohen neighborhood on Monday, injuring a 15-year-old boy in moderate condition. Police investigators from the Tel Aviv Central Unit are searching for an individual known to them and reportedly associated with crime boss Yossi Musli, who witnesses claim was in the vicinity at the time of the blast. The injured teenager was reportedly not the intended target, and the suspected primary target escaped unharmed. Eyewitnesses reported that a scooter rider arrived after the explosion and picked up the individual police are now seeking.

The blast occurred in the courtyard of a relative's home belonging to the suspected target. Investigators are working to determine the exact sequence of events and any connection between the sought individual and the explosion, which is believed to have been caused by a pipe bomb. The injured youth was transported to Wolfson Medical Center.

One resident described hearing a "very strong explosion" and seeing the bloodied teenager. He recounted the youth's shock and disorientation after the blast, noting the severe injuries. Another witness described the individual sought by police leaving the scene on a scooter shortly after the explosion. The intensity of the blast was compared to a missile strike.

Another neighbor expressed shock, initially not understanding the cause of the loud explosion. She witnessed people attempting to help the injured individual before emergency services arrived. A resident also noted that a woman with three young children had passed the location just minutes before the explosion, suggesting a near-tragedy.

The incident is being treated as criminal, and the investigation has been assigned to the Tel Aviv Central Unit. Police are gathering evidence, taking testimonies, and conducting searches. Tel Aviv District Commander Chaim Sragov held a situation assessment at the scene with other senior officers.

The explosion follows a recent surge in criminal incidents involving explosives, including grenades and anti-tank missiles, in residential and business areas across Israel over the past two months. Recent incidents include grenade attacks in Bat Yam, Hadera, Tel Aviv, and Holon, as well as anti-tank missile firings in Sakhnin, Jaljuliya, and Kfar Kassem. A grenade attack in Ma'alot Tarshiha the previous day resulted in a teenage girl sustaining moderate injuries.