The man who carried out the suicide bombing early Wednesday at a Tel Aviv pub was a British citizen, as was an additional man who managed to flee when his explosive device did not detonate, Israel Public TV reported Wednesday night, quoting police sources.
The British man who managed to escape, after scuffling with bystanders at the pub, was named as Omar Khan Shariff. He was born in Derby and was 27 years old, according to his passport.
The Israeli police and Israel's Secret Service (Shin Bet) requested the public's help in locating him. The suicide bomber was identified by his British passport as Asif Mohammed Hanif.
Three people were killed and 60 wounded, one critically and five seriously. Eleven of the wounded are Israeli soldiers and two are tourists.
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it acted with Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. A British diplomat in the region declined comment other than to say: "We are in close contact with Israeli authorities on all security matters." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
