In a suicide bombing in central Tel Aviv around 11AM, a lone suicide bomber set off an explosion, killing himself and injuring fifteen Israeli passerby’s. The bomber was killed instantly by the blast. Israeli rescue officials said two of the wounded were in severe condition, while the rest were lightly to moderatly wounded. The explosion occurred in a crowded shopping area, which on typical Fridays is packed with Israelis doing their weekend shopping.
Israeli media report that a bag containing a Kalashnikov assault rifle and five loaded magazines was found close to where the blast occured. Israeli security forces are not sure if the bag belonged to the bomber or to an accomplice, and are sweeping the area. According to the media reports a young Palestinian who was seen fleeing the area was chased and caught by the police, but it is not clear if he had any connection to the blast.
Israeli sources report that the Israeli police and army were in a heightened state of alert today in expectation for a retaliatory attack by the Palestinians. The blast comes just hours after Israel assassinated a senior official of the Islamic movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Baker Hamdan, a leader of Ezzedine al-Qassam, the armed wing of Hamas, was killed when Israeli combat helicopters fired missiles at the car he was driving. The Hamas movement promised a revenge attack following the assassination. However, so far no group has taken official responsibility for the attack. (www.albawaba.com)
