At least Ten Killed in Jerusalem Bus Bombing
by George Whitten
Januray 29, 2003
Jerusalem, Israel (Worthy News) — Just before 9 A.M. this morning at least 10 people were killed and 50 wounded when a bomb was detonated in a bus traveling down Gaza Road in Jerusalem, Israel. The explosion occurred near the home of Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, who was not home at the time, and also near the Moment Café, where 11 people were killed in a previous attack in March of 2002.
According to police officials, the bomber was a Palestinian male from Bethlehem. The Palestinian Authority confirmed the bomber was a Palestinian policeman. He was able to reach the rear of the bus before detonating his 6 to 7 KG bomb loaded with metal construction fragments. So far, twelve people have been reported in very serious condition in three Jerusalem hospitals. Many of the injured suffered lesions caused by the metal debris.
Among the injured, were two employees of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Svetlana Milchiker, miracalously survived the blast having been seated just two rows from the bomber. She was bloodied and bruised and suffered a head injury, but was able enough to climb out of the burning bus window.
Eyewitnesses claim that the explosion was so powerful that the roof of the bus was lifted over 35 feet into the air. The bomb was heard throughout portions of Jerusalem, including our neighborhood just blocks away. My wife and I, and our newborn baby, were on our way to run some errands in town when we heard the blast. Within minutes, the sirens came screaming from every direction in the city.
“The bomb was very big, the entire back end of the bus was ripped apart,†said Jerusalem Police chief, Mickey Levy. He further stated, “We [Jerusalem Police] have recently managed to stop several attacks, including the seizure of three explosive belts. All of these planned attacks are still being investigated. Today, we had no specific warning of this attack and we couldn’t stop it.â€
The Al Alsa Martyrs Brigade, linked to Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the attack according to Israel Radio. Islamic fundamentalist groups, Islamic Jihad and Hizbullah, rejoiced over the bombing but did not accept responsibility.
Israeli officials say that today’s bombing will not hinder the forthcoming prisioner exchange with Hizbullah. Despite the 30 to 50 daily terror warning alerts and today’s events, Israel will begin releasing some of the over 400 Palestinians connected to terrorism.