A powerful explosion demolished an Israeli bus near Yagur Junction east of Haifa early Wednesday. Witnesses reported dozens of casualties, including eight dead.
All of the Israelis reported killed were members of Israel's security forces, including two Border Police officers and five soldiers.
The blast went off at about 7:15 a.m. The bomb punched a large hole through the roof of the front of the bus, which was resting on the side of the highway, its wheels blown off.
The bus was an express line that links the northern suburbs of Haifa to Jerusalem.
A number of passing cars were also hit by the huge blast and hurled from the highway, witnesses said. Some of the motorists were wounded, they added.
Israeli police said a suicide bomber carried out this attack. Israeli security officials believed that Hamas members based in the city of Tulkarem carried out this attack, reported Haaretz. Hamas has claimed responsibility, saying it was carried out by an unidentified member of the its military wing.
"To (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon and his ministers and generals, we have shown that there is no 'defensive shield,'" the Hamas' announcement said, referring to the Israeli name for the military campaign, "Operation Defensive Shield."
Ismail Abu Shanab, a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, said the bomb attack was a "reaction to the ongoing brutal crimes committed by Sharon and all the criminals against our people, and it is a clear message that our people will not surrender and will not give up."
Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, asked about the Haifa bombing, said he was more concerned about violence in the Jenin refugee camp.
The bombing attack took place despite the fact that the Israeli police had been on high alert for attempts by Palestinian organizations to carry out attacks in retaliation to the Israeli offensive in the West Bank.
(Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
