At approximately 8:30 this morning, a terrorist approached the central bus station in the Negev capital and tried to board one of the buses. Security guards suspected and stopped him, at which point he detonated the explosives with which he was equipped. The two guards were seriously wounded, with shrapnel throughout their bodies.
Over fifty others were taken to Be'er Sheva's Soroka Medical Center for treatment, most of them suffering relatively minor injuries or shock.
The terrorist was apparently headed for one of Israel's largest hospitals, Soroka Medical Center. A bus driver of the MetroDan company, who said he was the first to notice the terrorist, recounted, "I was parked at the #9 bus stop when the terrorist arrived and asked if I get to the hospital. I told him that the #12 bus gets there. I saw that he had a large and full backpack and a plastic bag in his hand. I suspected him, and told the guard. He kept his eye on him, brought another guard, and then the explosion happened."
Southern District Police Chief Uri Bar-Lev, who just completed overseeing the cleaning-out of Gaza of Jews, declined comment on reports that the bomber may have been planning a car bomb attack. He suggested that "we wait patiently" until police can piece together all the pieces of the puzzle. Security sources are in pursuit of a suspicious vehicle seen leaving the area of the attack just before the explosion.
Likud MK Ehud Yatom said that today's attack "is a manifestation of the Palestinian intentions, as expressed by Muhammed Def [in his recent videotape] and the Islamic Jihad, to pursue and murder us as humiliated victims. We must restore our deterrence capacities in full strength in order to prevent the fulfillment of the Palestinian dream for another retreat from Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem."
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) said, "The terrorist organizations received a green light from the Prime Minister. He has shown them that terrorism pays off, as it brings to our surrender and retreat."
Ariel further said that Sharon has "already proved to everyone that human life is not a high priority for him. He must resign immediately, before he turns Israel into a terror-stricken country."
Almost a year ago to the day, on Aug. 31, 2004, 16 people were murdered by Palestinian terrorists who perpetrated a double bus bombing in Be'er Sheva.
Over fifty others were taken to Be'er Sheva's Soroka Medical Center for treatment, most of them suffering relatively minor injuries or shock.
The terrorist was apparently headed for one of Israel's largest hospitals, Soroka Medical Center. A bus driver of the MetroDan company, who said he was the first to notice the terrorist, recounted, "I was parked at the #9 bus stop when the terrorist arrived and asked if I get to the hospital. I told him that the #12 bus gets there. I saw that he had a large and full backpack and a plastic bag in his hand. I suspected him, and told the guard. He kept his eye on him, brought another guard, and then the explosion happened."
Southern District Police Chief Uri Bar-Lev, who just completed overseeing the cleaning-out of Gaza of Jews, declined comment on reports that the bomber may have been planning a car bomb attack. He suggested that "we wait patiently" until police can piece together all the pieces of the puzzle. Security sources are in pursuit of a suspicious vehicle seen leaving the area of the attack just before the explosion.
Likud MK Ehud Yatom said that today's attack "is a manifestation of the Palestinian intentions, as expressed by Muhammed Def [in his recent videotape] and the Islamic Jihad, to pursue and murder us as humiliated victims. We must restore our deterrence capacities in full strength in order to prevent the fulfillment of the Palestinian dream for another retreat from Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem."
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) said, "The terrorist organizations received a green light from the Prime Minister. He has shown them that terrorism pays off, as it brings to our surrender and retreat."
Ariel further said that Sharon has "already proved to everyone that human life is not a high priority for him. He must resign immediately, before he turns Israel into a terror-stricken country."
Almost a year ago to the day, on Aug. 31, 2004, 16 people were murdered by Palestinian terrorists who perpetrated a double bus bombing in Be'er Sheva.