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One dead as car explodes near Israeli school in
Paris

By Haaretz Service and Associated Press




A car bomb exploded near the Moshe Sharett Israeli school in northwest Paris Wednesday, killing the car's driver.

The school was closed at the time of the blast, which occurred less than 100 meters from the school. It was not immediately known if there was any tie between the school and the explosion.

Police said the explosion was not being investigated as a terrorist-related crime and had opened a regular criminal inquiry, police said.

The vehicle was parked, exploding when the car's owner, identified as a 55-year-old man with a prior criminal record, started the ignition, police said.

The school in northern Paris has 120 students, and is one of the most heavily guarded Jewish sites in the French capital.

A witness on the scene, Israeli reporter Boaz Bizmuth, said the explosion took place at 8:00 A.M., about 45 minutes before the students usually arrive. Children of many Israeli diplomats and emissaries study there, he added.

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