Palestinian suicide bomber injures five Israelis in Jerusalem; Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claims attack

Published July 30th, 2002 - 03:00 GMT

Five Israelis were wounded when a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at around 1 P.M. (10:00 GMT) Tuesday at the "Yemenite Felafel Stand" in downtown Jerusalem.

One of the wounded is in moderate condition, the rest were said to have sustained light injuries.

According to initial reports, the bomber is believed to have set off his explosive device prematurely, possibly due to a techincal malfunction.

Jerusalem Police Chief Mickey Levy said the bomber entered the felafel stand and detonated the bomb. "The moment he went in, there was a blast," Levy told Army Radio. "We are now determining whether there was some sort of short-circuit or whether the man was a suicide bomber. "For the time being, there is one dead terrorist and four people wounded."

This is the first suicide bombing in Jerusalem since June 19. Fatah military wing - Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the bombing attack. According to Mickey Levy, the bomber was Muhsin 'Ata, 17, a resident of Bethlehem.

For his part, Israeli government official David Baker condemned the bombing, saying that the attack highlighted the Palestinian belief that they could gain through "terror." "Palestinian terror is aiming to instil a perpetual state of fear in Israelis," he said. "This attack is proof that the Palestinian Authority continues to believe that terror will further its goals and this is mistaken." (Albawaba.com)