The American Embassy and the office of the Uzbek Attorney-General were also bombed in simultaneous blasts that rocked the capital of the formerly Soviet country. No Israelis were hurt in Friday's explosions, but two local guards - including the bodyguard of Israeli Ambassador Tzvi Cohen - were killed in the Israeli Embassy blast. A local policeman died of wounds he suffered in the U.S. Embassy blast.
Uzbek Interior Minister Zukir Almatov announced yesterday that several suspects in the triple suicide-bombings had already been arrested. Two Islamic terror groups, the Uzbek Islamic Movement and the Islamic Jihad in Uzbekistan, claimed responsibility for the bombings.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called the Israeli Ambassador in Tashkent to offer condolences and encouragement to him and to the other Israeli diplomatic personnel in the city. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom called as well to assure him that Israel would do everything possible to offer aid and comfort to the families of those killed or injured defending Israel's embassy.
INN's Ruti Avraham reports that the attack was carried out by three suicide bombers, apparently on the occasion of the start of the trial against 15 men who carried out an attack on the Uzbek government in February, killing 50. The men are said to be connected with Al-Qaeda. Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Islam Krimov has been under attack from human rights organizations recently for the interrogation methods used against Islamic extremists in his country.
Uzbek Interior Minister Zukir Almatov announced yesterday that several suspects in the triple suicide-bombings had already been arrested. Two Islamic terror groups, the Uzbek Islamic Movement and the Islamic Jihad in Uzbekistan, claimed responsibility for the bombings.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called the Israeli Ambassador in Tashkent to offer condolences and encouragement to him and to the other Israeli diplomatic personnel in the city. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom called as well to assure him that Israel would do everything possible to offer aid and comfort to the families of those killed or injured defending Israel's embassy.
INN's Ruti Avraham reports that the attack was carried out by three suicide bombers, apparently on the occasion of the start of the trial against 15 men who carried out an attack on the Uzbek government in February, killing 50. The men are said to be connected with Al-Qaeda. Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Islam Krimov has been under attack from human rights organizations recently for the interrogation methods used against Islamic extremists in his country.