14:45) At least 13 dead in Haifa suicide blast
By The Jerusalem Post Internet Staff
jpost.com
A suicide bomber blew himself up at about 2:45 p.m. near the Grand Canyon Mall in Haifa's Romema district, killing at least 13.
At least 43 people were wounded, Channel Two Television reported.
The blast took place when a Palestinian terrorist entered the glass-walled Matza restaurant, located along Ruppin Street, adjacent to the mall.
Magen David Adom Spokesmen told Israel Radio EMS units evacuated the wounded to Rambam, Carmel, and B'nai Tzion Hospitals, adding that the blast was extermely powerful.
Eyewitnesses said the restaurant was demolished in the blast, for which both Hamas and Islamic Jihad took responsibility.
The explosion was so powerful that it blew out large parts of the roof, said a witness, Alon Horen, who lives nearby.
Smoke was drifting from the building, and glass shards were scattered across the ground.
The restaurant, owned by Israeli Arabs from the Galilee, was crowded, and Haifa Mayor Amram Mitzna said almost everyone inside was injured.
Mitzna said the city was canceling the International Children's Theater Festival, which opened last night.
Dozens of ambulance workers rushed to the scene, unfolding stretchers. One man was taken to a hospital in a private car, and collapsed as he emerged from the vehicle.
Eyewitness Shimon Sabag told Israel Radio, "Watching people on fire is just horrible. I heard an explosion, I went into the gas station and I started to deal with the injured people.
"I couldn't deal with the critical injuries so I turned to the moderate. I tried to put out the fire, even the moderate injured were on fire," Sabag said.
The hospital emergency telephone numbers are:
Rambam Hospital: 125 - 5143/4
Carmel Hospital: 125 - 5142
B'nai Tzion Hospital: 125 - 5145.
No area code is necessary when dialing the above numbers.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suggested that in response to the attack, the Israeli military might accelerate the major offensive it launched last week in Palestinian areas.
David Baker, a Sharon spokesman, said that Israel will have to break "this chain of terror" and will use whatever means necessary "to achieve this at the earliest opportunity."
The Jerusalem Post Internet Edition will provide further details as they become available.
(David Rudge and The Associated Press contributed to this report.) |
