Bomber self-destructs during police chase in N. Israel

TEL AVIV Ñ A suspected Islamic bomber driving to an Israeli city blew himself up in the heat of a police chase.

The bomber was killed and three others in the commuter van were seriously wounded on Thursday afternoon. Police said they believe that the three were passengers who were not connected to the alleged bomber.

Five other people outside the van were also wounded in the Afula valley in northern Israel. They were said to be either motorists or passersby.

"The assessment is that we are talking about an attack by the Islamic Jihad or the Hamas," Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said.

Police searched the area and found a second bomb. The area was cordoned off to ambulances.

Officials said the alleged bomber was heading toward the Israeli city of Hadera. The van, owned by an Israeli Arab, was deemed as suspicious and a chase ensued.

At an intersection near the Israeli city of Umm El Fahm, the officials said, a bomb exploded in the van. They said two of the passengers remain trapped in the vehicle.

Police said they had received an intelligence alert of such an attack by the Islamic Jihad.

The bombing came hours after the Palestinian Authority acknowledged that it seeks to renew security talks with Israel.