Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, the home of one of the world’s leading cancer research centres, was “engulfed in flames” following an Iranian missile attack at dawn on Sunday.
Several buildings at the institute’s 280-acre campus in Rehovot were hit, and a fire caused by the barrage continued to burn hours after the attack at around 3:00 am local time.
According to Alan Monziani, a PhD student living in a dorm at the institute, the cancer research site was severely damaged by the strike.
“One side of the cancer research centre was missing most of its walls — it was hard to tell whether it took a direct hit or was struck by shrapnel, because it was engulfed in flames,” he told the New York Times.
The overnight attacks included a total of 70 ballistic missiles and dozens of drones sent by Iran, according to the IDF.
Founded in 1934, the institute is home to labs developing pioneering treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s and genetic diseases.
The campus has five faculties - mathematics and computer science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology – and brings together 1,300 scientific staff and 1,100 research students.
The public research university is also a pillar of technological innovation for Israel’s military, contributing to artificial intelligence for data analysis, drone technologies, encryption for military codes and field treatments for injured soldiers.
Professor Oren Schuldiner’s lab of developmental neuroscience was “totally destroyed” by the Iranian attack.
The researcher of molecular cell biology and molecular neuroscience said he was “heartbroken” by the destruction and described how he was still in “denial”.
In a post on X, he said: “My lab was totally destroyed tonight by an Iranian missile. Nobody was hurt.
"I am still in denial. But in general, we will rebuild. Not only the lab, but also society and our country.”
The lab of Eran Segal, who specialises in AI-based personalised medicine in the department of computer science and applied mathematics, was also destroyed.
“We will rebuild and return,” he wrote on X.
The lab was working on a piece of research entitled “Project 10K”, intended to develop personalised algorithms that accurately predict the likelihood of a person to developing a particular condition or disease within five to 10 years.
The Weizmann Institute confirmed that several buildings on campus had been impacted early Sunday, with a spokesperson saying: “Following the missile barrage launched early this morning, several buildings on the Weizmann Institute campus were hit.
“There were no injuries. The institute is in close contact with the relevant security and emergency authorities and is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of staff and campus facilities.”
At least 10 people were killed on Sunday night in a wave of Iranian missile attacks on civilian areas in Israel, in response to Israel’s military action against Iran’s nuclear programme.
And 42 people in the Rehovot area were wounded when a missile hit a residential area, toppling at least one apartment building, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service.
A further eight people in Israel were killed and about 100 others were wounded in further missile attacks on Sunday night.
Four of the deceased, including a man and two women in their 70s, were recovered in two apartments in the central city of Petah Tikva.
The body of an 86-year-old man was recovered in Bnei Brak, where a missile hit a school and damaged nearby homes, while rescuers found a further three more victims in Haifa after struggling to reach them due to a fire.
The total number of people killed since Friday stands at 24, according to the Israeli PM's office and Israeli media.
Iran says more than 200 have been killed since Israel began operation “Rising Lion” on Friday, targeting nuclear sites, scientists, and top military leaders.
