Northern Israel explosion injures 20 students and staff on school hike

About 20 people were injured, some severely, in an explosion in northern Israel on Monday while a group of high school students hiked near the Lebanese border, officials said. Police suspect unexploded ordnance caused the blast, and the military sent soldiers and helicopters to the scene.

What caused the explosion in northern Israel?

Israeli police, citing medical sources, said the initial suspicion is that unexploded ordnance caused the explosion. About 20 people were injured with varying degrees of severity. The cause has not been confirmed, and officials described it as an early assessment.

Who was injured in the northern Israel explosion?

The blast injured both students and staff from a religious high school who were on an outing, the municipality of the northern city of Maalot-Tarshiha said. Magen David Adom emergency services had earlier said eight of the injuries were serious or moderate. Paramedics were treating the wounded at the scene.

How did Israel's military respond to the explosion?

The military said soldiers were at the scene to provide assistance, while air force helicopters were on their way. Soldiers and helicopters had been dispatched to northern Israel, a region from which Israeli forces have been pounding Lebanon. Hezbollah militants have fired periodic rockets across the border.

What did Netanyahu say about the incident?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrapped plans and was holding assessments over what his office called a "severe incident". His office said he asked officials to ensure the injured were evacuated to hospitals as quickly as possible. He is continuing to hold ongoing assessments, the statement said.