Jerusalem / Haifa- ­ Israeli police said Sunday they had averted a large-scale bomb attack on a Haifa shopping centre after they discovered a car laden with several dozen kilogrammes of explosives.

"We have no doubt that a major attack was prevented," police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said. "Thousands of Israelis would have been at the mall at that time."

He said explosives experts had also defused several bombs.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the thwarted attack, whilst police said the car belonged to an resident of the Arab sector of eastern Jerusalem.

Some Israeli media reports said the car had been stolen. Police were also investigating reports that a woman was connected with the vehicle. According to Rosenfeld, police were alerted after passers-by became suspicious of the car, which was parked in the centre's parking lot.

Police across northern Israel have been place on a high state of alert, in case of further attacks, especially at locations where large numbers of the public congregate. (dpa)