Fifteen people were killed last night in the Sheffield Club suicide slaughter in Rishon LeTzion. Over 50 people were wounded, including 12 in critical and serious condition in four Tel Aviv-area hospitals. Of these, two died in the hospital this morning, while 19 of the injured Israelis have already been released.
A Palestinian suicide terrorist entered the club and detonated a powerful explosive device on the top floor of a three-story building in the new industrial zone of Rishon LeTzion, Israel\'s fourth-largest city, south of Tel Aviv. Arutz-7\'s Ofrah Lax reported that the suitcase carried by the terrorist held hundreds of nuts and bolts that shot forth like bullets when the blast went off, causing many of the injuries and deaths. \"The scenes here are particularly gruesome,\" she said, \"and some people were blown out the window and found dead on the ground. There are many foreign reporters here, and they are totally shocked by the difficult scenes they are seeing.\" The building was evacuated this afternoon, for fear that it would collapse totally.
The police say that the club was operating without a license and, in violation of emergency regulations, did not station an armed guard outside the entrance. The Hamas terror organization claimed responsibility for the attack. Deputy Defense Minister Dalia Rabin-Pilosof said that the Defense Ministry believes that the terrorist came from Gaza.
The process of identification of the bodies is long and complex, and thus far the names of only eleven of the victims have been released. They are:
Penina Hikri, 60, of Tel Aviv;
Shoshana Magmari, 51, Tel Aviv, survived by her husband, three children, and five grandchildren;
Anat Termeforush, 36, Ashdod, survived by her husband, who was wounded, and three children;
Chaim Rafael, 64, Tel Aviv;
Rassan Sharouk, 60, Holon, immigrated from France at age 17, survived by wife and four children;
Dalia Meisa, 56, Rishon LeTzion, survived by a daughter;
Nir Lovton, 26, Rishon LeTzion, survived by his wife who is pregnant with twins;
Avi Beiz, 26, Nes Tziona;
Rachamim Kimchi, 58, Rishon LeTzion.
Edna Cohen, 60, Holon.
Yisrael Shikar, 49, Rishon LeTzion.
Six of the victims were buried today.
A Palestinian suicide terrorist entered the club and detonated a powerful explosive device on the top floor of a three-story building in the new industrial zone of Rishon LeTzion, Israel\'s fourth-largest city, south of Tel Aviv. Arutz-7\'s Ofrah Lax reported that the suitcase carried by the terrorist held hundreds of nuts and bolts that shot forth like bullets when the blast went off, causing many of the injuries and deaths. \"The scenes here are particularly gruesome,\" she said, \"and some people were blown out the window and found dead on the ground. There are many foreign reporters here, and they are totally shocked by the difficult scenes they are seeing.\" The building was evacuated this afternoon, for fear that it would collapse totally.
The police say that the club was operating without a license and, in violation of emergency regulations, did not station an armed guard outside the entrance. The Hamas terror organization claimed responsibility for the attack. Deputy Defense Minister Dalia Rabin-Pilosof said that the Defense Ministry believes that the terrorist came from Gaza.
The process of identification of the bodies is long and complex, and thus far the names of only eleven of the victims have been released. They are:
Penina Hikri, 60, of Tel Aviv;
Shoshana Magmari, 51, Tel Aviv, survived by her husband, three children, and five grandchildren;
Anat Termeforush, 36, Ashdod, survived by her husband, who was wounded, and three children;
Chaim Rafael, 64, Tel Aviv;
Rassan Sharouk, 60, Holon, immigrated from France at age 17, survived by wife and four children;
Dalia Meisa, 56, Rishon LeTzion, survived by a daughter;
Nir Lovton, 26, Rishon LeTzion, survived by his wife who is pregnant with twins;
Avi Beiz, 26, Nes Tziona;
Rachamim Kimchi, 58, Rishon LeTzion.
Edna Cohen, 60, Holon.
Yisrael Shikar, 49, Rishon LeTzion.
Six of the victims were buried today.