A 70-year-old woman dead, and 17 injured, including four children, is the latest toll in a knife attack and car bombing in the town of Ra’anana, near Tel Aviv. The Times of Israel reports. According to the latest update, another five people are estimated to be in serious condition.

As announced by the authorities, the perpetrators are two Palestinians from the city of Hebron, who have been arrested and are being interrogated. They were in Israel illegally.

The 70-year-old woman was taken to a hospitalwhere she succumbed to her injuries. The victims also include a 34-year-old man, as well as a 16-year-old also in serious condition, hospital sources said. Eight other people have moderate injurieswhile three others have been slightly injured.

Initial reports indicate that the alleged perpetrator carried out attacks in several parts of the citydriving the car into people after allegedly stabbing a driver first before stealing his car and driving it into three people.

He then abandoned the car which was no longer working and then stole a second vehicle and continued, hitting at least one other group of people. In total, authorities say he stole three vehicles.

An eyewitness reports that “everything happened in a second when we heard the noise of a crash and we saw the driver stab a woman and then a 60-year-old man while screams could be heard in the background.”

Another witness told Haaretz that “I saw someone stab three people by the mall, steal a car and run over people with it.”

Police are still investigating the circumstances, but spokesman Eli Levy says “looks more and more like a terrorist incident”.

“Following a serious incident that occurred in Raanana, police forces are on the scene and the circumstances are being investigated”Israel Police wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“We urge the public to remain vigilant and follow police directions.”

Alongside, the city’s mayor, Chaim Broide, called on residents to stay inside as authorities still assess the situation.

“I’m asking residents and school children to stay off the streets and wait until there’s a clear picture,” Broyde told Channel 12 News.