VARIOUS/MIDEAST: Palestinian suicide bomber wounded 30 people in Tel Aviv on Thursday, raising tensions six days before a Palestinian election.

Record ID: 358052

  • Title: VARIOUS/MIDEAST: Palestinian suicide bomber wounded 30 people in Tel Aviv on Thursday, raising tensions six days before a Palestinian election.
  • Date: 20th January 2006
  • Summary: SLV ARMED POLICE AT SCENE
  • Embargoed: 4th February 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,War / Fighting
  • Reuters ID: LVABDEZ46PMM4GNS6904XBI4GWL3
  • Story Text: A Palestinian suicide bomber wounded 30 people in Tel Aviv on Thursday, raising tensions six days before a Palestinian election and confronting interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with a major test.
    The bombing at a popular sandwich stand was the first in Israel since Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was incapacitated by a massive stroke on Jan. 4 and could put pressure on Olmert for harsh reprisals in the Palestinian territories.
    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the attack was aimed at sabotaging the Jan. 25 parliamentary election. Violence could complicate the poll, in which the militant group Hamas is expected to make a strong showing against his Fatah movement.
    Islamic Jihad, which like Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction, claimed responsibility for the bombing, the first in the Jewish state since an 11-month truce expired at the end of last year.
    The bomber targeted a small, open-air sandwich stand on a busy pedestrian mall near Tel Aviv's old central bus station. Posing as a peddler, he walked in and offered in Hebrew to sell the patrons razor blades. Seconds later, he blew himself up.
    The blast spewed debris, body parts and half-eaten food in all directions.
    Authorities said the bomber was the only fatality but one person was in serious condition. The other injuries were mostly light to moderate, medics said.
    Israeli media said the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombing.
    The bombing was the first since Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was incapacitated by a stroke on January 4, and could put pressure on interim leader Ehud Olmert for harsh reprisals as Palestinians prepare for parliamentary elections next week.
    Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas later held a news conference held a press conference in which he condemned the suicide bombing.
    "What happened this afternoon today, is a very dangerous act and it is far from our upbringing and culture and on top of this it is an obvious violation of all the agreements reached and for sure it goes against the national consensus for all the Palestinian factions have agreed to stop all military attacks and especially those against civilians," Abbas told reporters.
    In Tel Aviv cleaning efforst are already on their way a few hours after a suicide bomber struck at a restaurant near the old central bus station in tel Aviv.
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