(2 March 22:06) Police are now reporting at least 9 innocent persons were killed in the suicide bombing attack in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood of the capital, including children. Emergency medical service officials reported earlier that 56 victims of the bombing attack were transported to four city hospitals.
MANY CHILDREN & INFANTS AMONG WOUNDED
Hospital officials are reporting that there are many children and infants among the dozens of wounded in the suicide bombing.
At about 7:20pm, a suicide bomber detonated a very large explosive device near Chaim Ozer Street, in the predominately ultra-Orthodox Beit Yisrael neighborhood. The blast came about one-hour following the termination of the Sabbath, a time when many families were heading home from synagogues. The victims were transported to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hadassah Hospitals, and the Bikur Cholim Hospital.
HOSPITAL HOTLINE INFORMATION NUMBERS
1. Bikur Cholim Hospital 12-55-123
2. Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem 12-55-122
3. Hadassah Hospital Mt. Scopus 12-55-121
4. Shaare Zedek Medical Center 12-55-125
5. Jerusalem Municipality 12-55-023106
CONCERNED CITIZENS PHONES POLICE ON THE SABBATH
Not long after the attack, police came under sharp attack by members of the Beit Yisrael community, as well as by at least one minister of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party. Police have confirmed receiving calls on Saturday afternoon, at about 3:00pm -- reports of a strange male, apparently an Arab, dressed as an Orthodox Jew. The callers told news reporters they told police the man looked like an Arab terrorist and did a poor job trying to appear as a member of the community. He was also noticed by many due to the fact he was carrying a bag, a strange site on the Sabbath in the ultra-Orthodox area. While the phone calls will be the subject of a comprehensive investigation, police report it is unlikely the man was the suicide bomber since he was spotted about four hours earlier and it is unlikely that he would have remained in the area that long prior to detonating the blast.
Residents explain police realized that if the ultra-Orthodox citizens telephoned on the Sabbath, red lights should have flashed at the police station and the response should have been more serious, as well as more immediate.
BEIT YISRAEL ONLY 50 METERS FROM EASTERN JERUSALEM
The location of the attack is one that is easily accessible by a terrorist from eastern Jerusalem, being about 50 meters (yards) from Route 1, which acts as a divider between western and predominately eastern Jerusalem. Police are theorizing the terrorist arrived in the area by foot from the eastern capital, or by taxi on Route 1, which is open to vehicular traffic on the Sabbath. The terrorist then only had to walk several tens of meters to the location where the bomb was detonated.
DOZENS OF AMBULANCES WERE DISPATCHED TO THE BLAST
Emergency medical service officials realized the location of the attack is a densely populated one, deciding not to take any chances. Ambulances were dispatched from the city and a call for assistance was sent to communities in Judea and Samaria. Ambulances responded from the Benjamin Regional Council of the Shomron, as did emergency vehicles from the Gush Etzion district of Yehuda. The latter did not arrive in the city since the Minharot road connecting the Gush Etzion area to southern Jerusalem was closed due to terrorist gunfire. There were no injuries in that attack.
Zaka burial society volunteers are now operating on the scene of the attack, collecting the blood-stained clothing and body parts for interment in accordance to Jewish law.
NEWS OF ATTACK PROMPTS DANCING IN PA RAMALLAH
When the news of the fatal attack reached PA Ramallah, residents headed out into the streets and began dancing in joy over hearing the dead and many injured, including children and infants. The PA issued a standard condemnatory message following the attack.
ARAFAT’S FATAH CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
Yasser Arafat’s Fatah Tanzim force claimed responsibility for the Beit Yisrael Attack.
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POLICEMAN KILLED IN APPARENT TERRORIST SHOOTING ATTACK
Police are reporting that a detective was found shot to death in the Judean Desert area, near Kedar, earlier tonight. The body of the off-duty officer was riddled with bullets and was far from his trail bike that he was riding on his day off. Additional details are unavailable at this time.
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GOLANI SOLDIER KILLED IN PA JENIN
Golani Brigade Sergeant Yaakov Avni, 20, from Kiryat Ata, was killed by terrorist sniper fire in PA controlled Jenin on Friday afternoon. Sgt. Avnei will be laid to rest in the military section of the Kiryat Ata cemetery on Sunday, 3 March 2002 at 3:00pm. A company commander was seriously injured as well.
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ELSEWHERE IN YESHA
At this time, heavy shooting is ongoing in Hevron between army forces and terrorists in the PA areas. There are no reports of injuries to our forces. Shooting was reported against the border police base in the Tul Karem area earlier. There were no injuries.
MANY CHILDREN & INFANTS AMONG WOUNDED
Hospital officials are reporting that there are many children and infants among the dozens of wounded in the suicide bombing.
At about 7:20pm, a suicide bomber detonated a very large explosive device near Chaim Ozer Street, in the predominately ultra-Orthodox Beit Yisrael neighborhood. The blast came about one-hour following the termination of the Sabbath, a time when many families were heading home from synagogues. The victims were transported to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hadassah Hospitals, and the Bikur Cholim Hospital.
HOSPITAL HOTLINE INFORMATION NUMBERS
1. Bikur Cholim Hospital 12-55-123
2. Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem 12-55-122
3. Hadassah Hospital Mt. Scopus 12-55-121
4. Shaare Zedek Medical Center 12-55-125
5. Jerusalem Municipality 12-55-023106
CONCERNED CITIZENS PHONES POLICE ON THE SABBATH
Not long after the attack, police came under sharp attack by members of the Beit Yisrael community, as well as by at least one minister of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party. Police have confirmed receiving calls on Saturday afternoon, at about 3:00pm -- reports of a strange male, apparently an Arab, dressed as an Orthodox Jew. The callers told news reporters they told police the man looked like an Arab terrorist and did a poor job trying to appear as a member of the community. He was also noticed by many due to the fact he was carrying a bag, a strange site on the Sabbath in the ultra-Orthodox area. While the phone calls will be the subject of a comprehensive investigation, police report it is unlikely the man was the suicide bomber since he was spotted about four hours earlier and it is unlikely that he would have remained in the area that long prior to detonating the blast.
Residents explain police realized that if the ultra-Orthodox citizens telephoned on the Sabbath, red lights should have flashed at the police station and the response should have been more serious, as well as more immediate.
BEIT YISRAEL ONLY 50 METERS FROM EASTERN JERUSALEM
The location of the attack is one that is easily accessible by a terrorist from eastern Jerusalem, being about 50 meters (yards) from Route 1, which acts as a divider between western and predominately eastern Jerusalem. Police are theorizing the terrorist arrived in the area by foot from the eastern capital, or by taxi on Route 1, which is open to vehicular traffic on the Sabbath. The terrorist then only had to walk several tens of meters to the location where the bomb was detonated.
DOZENS OF AMBULANCES WERE DISPATCHED TO THE BLAST
Emergency medical service officials realized the location of the attack is a densely populated one, deciding not to take any chances. Ambulances were dispatched from the city and a call for assistance was sent to communities in Judea and Samaria. Ambulances responded from the Benjamin Regional Council of the Shomron, as did emergency vehicles from the Gush Etzion district of Yehuda. The latter did not arrive in the city since the Minharot road connecting the Gush Etzion area to southern Jerusalem was closed due to terrorist gunfire. There were no injuries in that attack.
Zaka burial society volunteers are now operating on the scene of the attack, collecting the blood-stained clothing and body parts for interment in accordance to Jewish law.
NEWS OF ATTACK PROMPTS DANCING IN PA RAMALLAH
When the news of the fatal attack reached PA Ramallah, residents headed out into the streets and began dancing in joy over hearing the dead and many injured, including children and infants. The PA issued a standard condemnatory message following the attack.
ARAFAT’S FATAH CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
Yasser Arafat’s Fatah Tanzim force claimed responsibility for the Beit Yisrael Attack.
****
POLICEMAN KILLED IN APPARENT TERRORIST SHOOTING ATTACK
Police are reporting that a detective was found shot to death in the Judean Desert area, near Kedar, earlier tonight. The body of the off-duty officer was riddled with bullets and was far from his trail bike that he was riding on his day off. Additional details are unavailable at this time.
****
GOLANI SOLDIER KILLED IN PA JENIN
Golani Brigade Sergeant Yaakov Avni, 20, from Kiryat Ata, was killed by terrorist sniper fire in PA controlled Jenin on Friday afternoon. Sgt. Avnei will be laid to rest in the military section of the Kiryat Ata cemetery on Sunday, 3 March 2002 at 3:00pm. A company commander was seriously injured as well.
****
ELSEWHERE IN YESHA
At this time, heavy shooting is ongoing in Hevron between army forces and terrorists in the PA areas. There are no reports of injuries to our forces. Shooting was reported against the border police base in the Tul Karem area earlier. There were no injuries.