Seven people hurt in gas blast in Israeli city

JERUSALEM, Mar 30 (Reuters) An explosion, apparently caused by a gas canister, ripped through an apartment building in the northern Israeli city of Haifa today, injuring seven people, Israeli radio stations reported.

One person was seriously hurt from the blast which damaged several apartments in an eight-storey complex, they said.

The explosion, which echoed through a residential neighbourhood in Haifa early in the morning, initially raised suspicions it may have been an attack by Palestinian militants.

It later appeared to be an accident, Israeli media reported, adding that police were investigating.

Reuters CH DS1201