NewsMine — war-on-terror — israel — hostilities — 2002 — 02-6-siege-june — Viewing Item

Suicide 18 { June 5 2002 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=604812&in_review_text_id=573768 http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=604812&in_review_text_id=573768 June 5, 2002 Eighteen killed by suicide bomb by Colin Adamson At least 18 people were killed, some of them burned alive, when a bomb ripped through a packed bus in the north of Israel today. 18 were killed and at least 45 injured as a suicide bomber destroyed an Israeli bus this morning One couple who were trapped in the wreckage were said to have died in a last embrace as flames tore through the bus at a busy junction in the rush hour. A Palestinian bomber, who was among the dead, drew up in a car behind the bus and set off a huge explosion. The bus, carrying off-duty Israeli soldiers and civilians, overturned twice. There was a gap of several seconds before a fierce blaze broke out on board near the city of Megiddo, which in biblical times was known as Armageddon. The soldiers' ammunition exploded in the heat, adding to the carnage. Several passengers were thrown out of the bus by the force of the explosion and rescuers were forced back by the intense heat. More than 40 people were injured. The bus was reduced to a scorched metal frame. Bus driver Mikki Har'el survived by jumping out of a shattered window - the fourth time he had lived through a terror attack on his route. Mr Har'el said he saw soldiers "thrown against the side of the bus and the bus began to burn". Mr Har'el pulled injured passengers who were lying in the road away from the fire, adding: "Apparently some of the passengers were trapped inside the bus. The flames prevented me from going in." Soldier Sharon Levinger was dozing at the front of the bus. He said: "In an eyeblink, I saw a car passing and then there was an explosion. I was right by the door and I managed to kick it open and get out." A chunk of mangled metal is all that remained of the car the suicide bomber was in. The blast occurred as the bus pulled into a roadside station. Its route from Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean coast passes a number of mostly Arab towns, and both Jewish Israelis and Arab Israelis were believed to be on board. The Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility, saying the bombing marked the 35th anniversary of the 1967 war in which Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Megiddo junction is a few miles north of the West Bank town of Jenin, the scene of fierce fighting when Israeli forces went in to seize Palestinian gunmen. Israel is planning to build a 60-mile fence in the area to limit attacks and separate Jenin, Tulkarm and Qalqilya from Israeli cities. Today's blast prompted an angry reaction in Israel. The Israeli security cabinet met in emergency session. There were reports of Israeli tanks moving into Jenin this morning in response to the attack. Two helicopter gunships fired machine guns toward one area, witnesses said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The bombing was the worst suicide attack since Israel began its recent offensive in the West Bank and will be a severe blow to diplomatic efforts. The attack came hours after CIA chief George Tenet visited the area to push reforms aimed at making the Palestinian security services more effective in preventing terror attacks. The Palestinian Authority condemned the bombing and rejected Israel's charge that their president, Yasser Arafat, was responsible.

6 settlers die { June 21 2002 } Arafat compound { June 6 2002 } Asked to pullout { June 23 2002 } Building wall { June 17 2002 } Israel kills four { June 21 2002 } More siege { May 14 2002 } New offensive { June 19 2002 } One ton bomb dropped on gaza neighborhood Suicide 18 { June 5 2002 } Files Listed: 9

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