JERUSALEM: Israel’s postal service has halted mail delivery across the country after two package bombs were discovered in a post office in northern Israel.

The Postal Authority says a bomb squad defused the two packages, which were found in the northern town of Migdal HaEmek. The packages were addressed to a woman whose name has not been released. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says police ordered all mail delivery halted as a safety precaution. He refused to release further details, including whether police think the attempted bombing was carried out by criminals or Arab militants. Postal Authority spokeswoman Merav Lapidot says it is the first time the mail has been halted on a nationwide scale.