Israeli police find huge car bomb

Bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion of the car

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli border police have averted a possible terrorist attack after discovering one of the biggest car bombs ever found in Israel, an Israeli spokesman says.

Around 1,300 pounds (600 kg) of explosives were found packed into a car after Israeli border police identified it as a suspicious vehicle, according to Israeli officials.

Two vehicles had fled a roadblock between Haifa and Tel Aviv at about 2:00 a.m. local time on Thursday near the village of Givat Ada, prompting the border police to chase them.

The occupants of one of the vehicles fled.

The border patrol approached the car and saw a mobile phone attached to explosives.

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They called in police bomb squad who concluded the vehicle was a car bomb. It was then detonated. No one was injured.

If it had been successful, it would have been the first Palestinian bombing since August 4.

The incident comes a day before Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year, which begins at sundown Friday.

In a separate incident in northern Gaza, Israeli soldiers exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen Thursday, Israeli military sources added.

One of the gunmen was killed, Israel Radio said.

Two Israelis were wounded, one seriously, the other moderately, according to Israeli medical services.

The firefight took place near the settlements of Nisanit and Dugit.