At least seven people were killed at about 60 wounded, ten seriously, in the bombing of the Number 14 bus near the Liberty Bell Garden in Jerusalem at around 8:20 AM. The blast was apparently caused by a suicide bomber. The bus was en route from Ramat Beit Hakerem to Har Homa via the center of the city, and was very crowded.
Rescue units are now completing the evacuation of the wounded to the city's hospitals. A rescue unit source said there were probably several wounded, but that the bus was relatively intact from the blast. The police are now checking the bus.
On the timing of this latest terrorist attack, a day before the hearing on the security fence Israel is building opens in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Israel Police Inspector General Commissioner Shlomo Aharonishki is quoted by "Ynet" as saying, "I see no point in looking for motives after every terrorist attack. The terrorist organizations try to carry out attacks all the time. It's true that the hearing begins tomorrow in The Hague, but we have been on widespread alert for a long period. The fence and the other barriers are an important line of defense for the security forces for preventing terrorist attacks."
Ynet reported that Minister of Justice Joseph Lapid said, "The abominable attack in Jerusalem is the answer to the accusations against Israel over the fence in the International Court in The Hague. If the fence surrounding Jerusalem had been in place, there would have been no attack. The Palestinian murderers once again showed that they are the aggressor, not Israel."
The Palestinian Authority condemned this morning's attack, and urged the US to step up its peace efforts.
Hospital emergency numbers:
- Bikkur Holim - 1255 123
- Hadassa Ein Kerem - 1255-122
- Hadassa Mount Scopus - 1255-121
. The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption emergency number for new immigrants is 1255-081-010. 11 people were killed in the previous bus bombing in Jerusalem on January 29.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 22, 2004