Davidka Square bus bombing

Jerusalem bus 14A attack
Part of the Second Intifada militancy campaign

The attack
site
Location Jerusalem, Israel
Date June 11, 2003
Attack type suicide bombing
Deaths 17 civilians (+ 1 bomber)
Injured approximately 100 civilians
Perpetrator(s) Hamas claimed responsibility

The Davidka Square bus bombing was a suicide bombing on June 11, 2003 on Egged bus line 14a in the center of Jerusalem, Israel. 17 people were killed in the attack and over 100 people were injured.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Contents

The attack

At about 17:30 pm on Wednesday, June 11, 2003, a Palestinian suicide bomber dressed as an Orthodox Jew, boarded bus 14a at the Mahane Yehuda market bus stop on Jaffa Road. At Davidka Square, the bomber detonated his explosive device, which contained a large quantity of metal shrapnel designed to cause maximum casualties.[1][2][3]

17 people were killed in the attack and more than 100 people were injured, including dozens of passersby.[2][1]

Fatalities

  • Sgt. Tamar Ben-Eliahu, 20, of Moshav Paran[4]
  • Alan Beer, 46, of Jerusalem[5]
  • Eugenia Berman, 50, of Jerusalem[6]
  • Elsa Cohen, 70, of Jerusalem[7]
  • Zvi Cohen, 39, of Jerusalem[8]
  • Roi Eliraz, 22, of Mevaseret Zion[9]
  • Alexander Kazaris, 77, of Jerusalem[10]
  • Yaffa Mualem, 65, of Jerusalem[11]
  • Yaniv Obayed, 22, of Herzliya[12]
  • Bat-El Ohana, 21, of Kiryat Ata[13]
  • Anna Orgal, 55, of Jerusalem[14]
  • Zippora Pesahovitch, 54, of Tzur Hadassah[15]
  • Bianca Rivka Shichrur, 62, of Jerusalem[16]
  • Malka Sultan, 67, of Jerusalem[17]
  • Bertin Tita, 75, of Jerusalem[18]
  • Miriam Levy, 74, of Jerusalem[19]
  • Haile Abraha Hawki, 56, a foreign worker from Eritrea[20]

The perpetrators

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that the attack was an act of vengeance for the Israeli assassination attempt on the senior Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi on Tuesday, June 10th 2003. Rantisi survived the assassination attempt during which Israeli helicopters fired missiles at his car.[1]

Israeli retaliation

Shortly after the bus attack, Israel launched a counter terrorism attack in east Gaza in which Israeli helicopters fired rockets at a moving car carrying among others two seniors of the Hamas military arm. All of the car's 6 passengers were killed in the counter attack.[21][22][23]

Official reactions

Involved parties

 Israel: A spokesman for the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon stated that the suicide attack indicates that the Palestinians have done nothing to crack down on militants.[21]

 Palestinian territories:

International

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c "BBC NEWS | Middle East | Suicide blast hits Jerusalem bus". BBC News (London: BBC). 11 June, 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2982068.stm. Retrieved 18 October 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "Jerusalem bus attack death toll rises to 17 - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News". haaretz.com. 2011 [last update]. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/jerusalem-bus-attack-death-toll-rises-to-17-1.91198. Retrieved 18 October 2011. 
  3. ^ "Suicide bombing of Egged bus No 14A in Jerusalem -". mfa.gov.il. 2011 [last update]. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2003/6/Suicide+bombing+of+Egged+bus+No+14A+in+Jerusalem+-.htm. Retrieved 18 October 2011. 
  4. ^ Sgt. Tamar Ben-Eliahu
  5. ^ Alan Beer
  6. ^ Eugenia Berman
  7. ^ Elsa Cohen
  8. ^ Zvi Cohen
  9. ^ Roi Haim Eliraz
  10. ^ Alexander Kazaris
  11. ^ Yaffa Georgia Mualem
  12. ^ Yaniv Obayed
  13. ^ Bat-El Ohana
  14. ^ Anna Orgal
  15. ^ Zippora Pesahovitch
  16. ^ Bianca Rivka Shichrur
  17. ^ Malka Juliet Sultan
  18. ^ Bertin Tita
  19. ^ Miriam Levy
  20. ^ Haile Abraha Hawki
  21. ^ a b c 16 Killed on Israeli Bus; 7 Die in Gaza
  22. ^ NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources
  23. ^ Israel Hits Gaza after Jerusalem Bombing : NPR
  24. ^ USATODAY.com - Bush condemns Jerusalem bus bombing