A bomb exploded under a vehicle parked outside a fancy restaurant in Gaza City on Wednesday, damaging the car and the facade of the eatery, the owner and police said.

No one was hurt and no group claimed responsibility for the blast, Ramzi Shaheen, a police official said. But in recent months, there have been a number of attacks on Internet cafes and record stores by what security officials suspect is a secret vice squad of Muslim militants.

In Wednesday's explosion, the vehicle was badly damaged and the glass facade of the restaurant was shattered. There were no injuries.

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"We were inside, working in the kitchen, and we suddenly heard an explosion," said Mona Ghalaini, restaurant manager and vehicle owner. She didn't blame anyone, and said her car had been there for at least three hours.

This would be the first attack on a restaurant since late 2005, when the only club for foreigners in Gaza was blown up. It was the only place that served alcoholic beverages in the conservative strip.

A little-known group calling itself the Swords of Truth has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in recent months.

Shaheen said an investigation was under way. The attack comes a few days after Palestinian security launched a new plan designed to deal with Gaza's lawlessness and limit use of weapons by private individuals.