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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Three dead in Israel suicide bomb | Three dead in Israel suicide bomb |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A suicide bomber has killed three people at a bakery in the southern Israeli town of Eilat, police say. | A suicide bomber has killed three people at a bakery in the southern Israeli town of Eilat, police say. |
| The explosion ripped through the Lehamim bakery in a residential area at 0940 (0740 GMT). | The explosion ripped through the Lehamim bakery in a residential area at 0940 (0740 GMT). |
| Three Palestinian militant groups said they carried out the attack, saying the bomber was from Gaza but had entered Eilat via neighbouring Jordan. | Three Palestinian militant groups said they carried out the attack, saying the bomber was from Gaza but had entered Eilat via neighbouring Jordan. |
| The attack is the first suicide bombing in Israel since April 2006 and the first in the southern town. | The attack is the first suicide bombing in Israel since April 2006 and the first in the southern town. |
| Eilat, a popular diving resort some 350km (220 miles) south of Jerusalem, has previously largely escaped violence by Palestinian militants. | Eilat, a popular diving resort some 350km (220 miles) south of Jerusalem, has previously largely escaped violence by Palestinian militants. |
| Body parts | Body parts |
| Witnesses described a massive blast which shook the area. | Witnesses described a massive blast which shook the area. |
| "I saw a man with a black coat and a bag. For Eilat, where it is hot, it is strange to see someone walking with a coat. I said to myself, 'Why is this idiot dressed that way?'," Benny Mazgini, a local resident, told Israel Radio. | "I saw a man with a black coat and a bag. For Eilat, where it is hot, it is strange to see someone walking with a coat. I said to myself, 'Why is this idiot dressed that way?'," Benny Mazgini, a local resident, told Israel Radio. |
| "Seconds later, I heard a huge blast. The building shook." | "Seconds later, I heard a huge blast. The building shook." |
| The force of the explosion left body parts scattered around the bakery, while outside trays of bread lay on the blood-stained pavement. | The force of the explosion left body parts scattered around the bakery, while outside trays of bread lay on the blood-stained pavement. |
| Eilat police commander Bruno Stein warned that more bombers might be on the loose. | Eilat police commander Bruno Stein warned that more bombers might be on the loose. |
| "Our assumption is that it's not one bomber, and there might be more bombers in Eilat right now," he said. | "Our assumption is that it's not one bomber, and there might be more bombers in Eilat right now," he said. |
| 'Joint attack' | 'Joint attack' |
| Three Palestinian groups - Islamic Jihad, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and a previously unknown group called the Islamic Brigade - said they carried out the attack. | Three Palestinian groups - Islamic Jihad, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and a previously unknown group called the Islamic Brigade - said they carried out the attack. |
| We reject these acts and we do not believe that they are in the interest of the Palestinian cause Yasser Abed RabboSpokesman for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas | We reject these acts and we do not believe that they are in the interest of the Palestinian cause Yasser Abed RabboSpokesman for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas |
| They named the bomber as 21-year-old Mohammad Siksik from Gaza, saying he got into Eilat from Jordan. | They named the bomber as 21-year-old Mohammad Siksik from Gaza, saying he got into Eilat from Jordan. |
| The groups said the attack was planned seven months ago and warned of more to come. | The groups said the attack was planned seven months ago and warned of more to come. |
| Israeli police have still not confirmed who they believe carried out the attack. | Israeli police have still not confirmed who they believe carried out the attack. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed to continue fighting Palestinian militants. | |
| "We shall... instruct our security people to continue their ongoing and never-ending struggle against terrorists and those who send them," the Associated Press news agency quoted Mr Olmert as saying. | |
| Although the governing Hamas group was apparently not involved, its spokesmen have described the bombing as a "natural reaction" to Israel's actions in the West Bank and Gaza. | Although the governing Hamas group was apparently not involved, its spokesmen have described the bombing as a "natural reaction" to Israel's actions in the West Bank and Gaza. |
| However, a senior aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack. | However, a senior aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack. |
| "We reject these acts and we do not believe that they are in the interest of the Palestinian cause and that they blacken the image of the Palestinian people," Yasser Abed Rabbo told AFP news agency. | "We reject these acts and we do not believe that they are in the interest of the Palestinian cause and that they blacken the image of the Palestinian people," Yasser Abed Rabbo told AFP news agency. |
| The last suicide attack was at a Tel Aviv restaurant, killing 10 people. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in that time, mainly in the Gaza Strip. | The last suicide attack was at a Tel Aviv restaurant, killing 10 people. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in that time, mainly in the Gaza Strip. |