(Wednesday, 08 May, 2002 - 03:14am) Authorities report the death toll in the Sheffield Club pool hall attack in Rishon L\'Tzion has climbed to 15. Dozens of persons were injured with some in critical and serious condition in four Tel Aviv area hospitals. The wounded were transported to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer, Assaf HaRofeh Hospital, Ichilov Hospital, and the Wolfson Hospital.
A powerful explosive device was detonated in the multi-story entertainment complex located in the new industrial zone of Rishon L\'Tzion, a municipality of about 100,000 located south of Tel Aviv. A suicide bomber entered the club and detonated the device at about 11:03pm. Police have already reported the club was operating without a license and was not in compliance with emergency laws requiring armed security personnel outside the public facility.
At this time, all of the bodies have been transported from the scene of the attack. The process of identifying the dead is underway in the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.
The Hamas terror organization has released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
Official sources are reporting that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is concluding his meetings in the White House and will be heading home in less than one hour, canceling planned meetings with other officials, as well as a New York City stopover originally planned for Wednesday.
A powerful explosive device was detonated in the multi-story entertainment complex located in the new industrial zone of Rishon L\'Tzion, a municipality of about 100,000 located south of Tel Aviv. A suicide bomber entered the club and detonated the device at about 11:03pm. Police have already reported the club was operating without a license and was not in compliance with emergency laws requiring armed security personnel outside the public facility.
At this time, all of the bodies have been transported from the scene of the attack. The process of identifying the dead is underway in the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.
The Hamas terror organization has released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
Official sources are reporting that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is concluding his meetings in the White House and will be heading home in less than one hour, canceling planned meetings with other officials, as well as a New York City stopover originally planned for Wednesday.