JERUSALEM: At least three people were killed in an attack in the central Israeli city of Elad on Thursday, health officials said.

Police said the incident, which occurred as Israelis celebrated independence day, appeared to be a terrorist attack and they had set up roadblocks to try to catch the assailants who apparently fled the scene.

Elad's mayor, speaking on television, called on residents to stay indoors while security forces were still operating.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service said three people were killed and two others seriously wounded.

New clashes at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound

There have been a spate of Arab street attacks in Israel in recent weeks. Israel has responded with arrest raids in Palestinian towns and villages which have often sparked clashes and brought the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of the year to at least 40.

The casualties include armed members of militant groups, lone assailants and bystanders.