Twelve persons were wounded, one very critically, in a suicide bombing attack this morning in downtown Jerusalem near Bikur Cholim Hospital. Three people are listed in moderate condition.
Shortly before 8 AM, two Border Guard policemen were alerted to a suspicious bearded male wearing religious garb. As the two began to cautiously approach the suspect and arrived within 3-4 meters of him, he saw them, smiled, and detonated a powerful bomb inside a large bag he was holding. One of the policemen was critically wounded; after being taken for emergency treatment in Bikur Cholim, he was soon transported to the trauma unit of Hadassah Hospital. Doctors have been working throughout the day to try and save his life. His colleague is described in light condition, with shrapnel and puncture wounds from the bolts and nails in the bomb. Jerusalem Police Chief Mickey Levy said that the two had prevented an attack \"many times more grave.\"
The latest attack was the fifth bombing in the capital in 32 hours; the previous four led to the treatment of seven persons for shock and anxiety. This morning’s attack occurred about one block from Sbarro Restaurant, the site of the August 9th suicide bombing attack that claimed 15 lives.
Dr. Rafi Pollack of Bikur Cholim Hospital arrived at the scene minutes after the blast; his description of what he saw and felt can be heard at \"www.israelnationalnews.com/metafiles/asx/engnews/features/pollak.asx\".
Shortly before 8 AM, two Border Guard policemen were alerted to a suspicious bearded male wearing religious garb. As the two began to cautiously approach the suspect and arrived within 3-4 meters of him, he saw them, smiled, and detonated a powerful bomb inside a large bag he was holding. One of the policemen was critically wounded; after being taken for emergency treatment in Bikur Cholim, he was soon transported to the trauma unit of Hadassah Hospital. Doctors have been working throughout the day to try and save his life. His colleague is described in light condition, with shrapnel and puncture wounds from the bolts and nails in the bomb. Jerusalem Police Chief Mickey Levy said that the two had prevented an attack \"many times more grave.\"
The latest attack was the fifth bombing in the capital in 32 hours; the previous four led to the treatment of seven persons for shock and anxiety. This morning’s attack occurred about one block from Sbarro Restaurant, the site of the August 9th suicide bombing attack that claimed 15 lives.
Dr. Rafi Pollack of Bikur Cholim Hospital arrived at the scene minutes after the blast; his description of what he saw and felt can be heard at \"www.israelnationalnews.com/metafiles/asx/engnews/features/pollak.asx\".