A Palestinian suicide bomber blew up a booby-trapped car in the early hours of Friday morning, at the entrance to the "Studio 49" discotheque in southern Tel Aviv. Five Israelis were lightly injured by the blast, which occurred at approximately 1 A.M.
Eyewitnesses said that the bomber tried to detonate the car at the entrance to the club. According to the police, the bomber tried to enter the nightclub, and, according to initial reports, a security guard suspected his ulterior motives, after which he proceeded to shoot and kill the bomber, Haaretz reported.
Witnesses said people ran in panic as the car, which came to rest just a few meters from the club's main entrance, was enveloped in flames.
The explosion was heard throughout the streets surrounding the area. A large number of police forces arrived at the scene. During a sweep of the area in search of additional explosive devices, police evactuated people at nearby nightclubs. Several large clubs are situated in the area, which is a popular destination for young adults on Thursday nights.
"It was a suicide attack with a car," Tel Aviv police chief Yosef Sedbon said at the scene. "When he saw the people in front, he took his car and tried to run it into the club," Sedbon added.
The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility Friday for the attack. "The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades has carried out the remarkable, heroic martyrdom operation in the heart of Tel Aviv this morning, in which a seeker of martyrdom blew up his pristine body, leading to casualties in the ranks of the enemy," the group said in a statement.
"It is our sole weapon to end the occupation of Palestine, and we will not give up our strength and resistance until victory," the statement said. (Albawaba.com)
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