Deadly bomb blast in Tel Aviv was a terrorist attack, Israeli police say

JERUSALEM: A bomb blast in Tel Aviv late on Sunday has been confirmed as a terrorist attack, Israeli police and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency said on Monday (Aug 19).

The man carrying the bomb, which exploded near a synagogue, was killed and a passerby was injured, according to police at the scene.

"It can now be confirmed that this was a terror attack," police and Shin Bet said in a joint statement on Monday.

Sunday's explosion came about an hour after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv to push for a ceasefire in Gaza that will end the 10-month-old war between Israel and Hamas.

There has been increased urgency to reach a ceasefire deal amid fears of an escalation across the wider region. Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Jul 31.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for his death.