| Eilat bakery bombing | |
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The attack site
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| Location | Eilat, Israel |
| Date | January 29, 2007 |
| Attack type | suicide attack |
| Deaths | 3 civilians (+ 1 bomber) |
| Perpetrator(s) | al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades Islamic Jihad |
The Eilat bakery bombing occurred on 29 January 2007 when a Palestinian suicide bomber from the Gaza Strip infiltrated the northern suburbs of Eilat, Israel. Upon seeing the police approaching, he entered a neighbourhood bakery and detonated his bomb, killing three Jewish employees (two Israeli, one Peruvian).
In the midst of Palestinian factional violence, both the Islamic Jihad and the Fatah-affiliated al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed joint responsibility.[1]
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According to the Islamic Jihad, the suicide bomber initially set out from the West Bank, and later on was smuggled into Jordan. From there he reached Eilat and was given the explosives by militants waiting for him there, after going through seven months of preparations.
Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter stated that the bomber infiltrated Israel from Egypt, echoing conclusions of the other intelligence agencies. Israel stated that the suicide bomber had infiltrated through the 220 kilometer Israeli-Egyptian border which is fenceless and patrolled by minimal IDF and Border Police forces. The suicide bomber possibly entered Egypt through an underground tunnel across the Philadelphi Corridor, and was then driven to the Egyptian/Israeli border, which he crossed on foot some 30 km from Eilat.
After Infiltrating into Israel, on Monday, 29 January 2007, the suicide bomber hitched a ride with an Israeli man, Lt. Col. (res.) Yossi Waltinksy. The Israeli driver stated later on in an interview with Channel 10 that he had suspected the hitchhiker was up to something, mainly due to his suspicious heavy clothing and lack of knowledge of Hebrew, nevertheless, he wasn't able do do anything at that point until the suspicious passenger got out of his car. Immidiatly after that Waltinksy phoned the police minutes before the bomb was detonated.
The suicide bomber, whom wore a long black winter coat on a warm sunny day, soon approached a small bakery in a residential neighborhood of Eilat. The local police later on stated that the suicide bomber was carrying the bomb in a black bag rather than an explosives belt.
The suicide bomber appeared to have stopped at the bakery for coffee before reaching his final destination, and blew himself up after he saw police cars approaching.
This was Eilat's first suicide bombing, and the first attack to succeed against Israel since 17 April 2006 (others had been attempted, but thwarted by Israeli security forces).[2] Although it was the first suicide bombing to hit the city, through the years there have been other acts of terror committed near Eilat.[3]
Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, together with two other terrorist groups.[5][6][7] A spokesman of Islamic Jihad declared that the suicide bomber was a 21-year-old named Muhammed Faisal al-Saqsaq who originated from Gaza City and who was a member of the Fatah-affiliated al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
According to his relatives, al-Saqsaq was depressed because he was unemployed and because his baby daughter recently died of an illness. In addition, his best friend had been killed in clashes with IDF forces. al-Saqsaq's family noted that he was missing for three days, but they "knew he was going to martyrdom operation".
A large crowd gathered outside the bomber's home to praise the attack. "Mohammed be happy. You will go directly to heaven," the crowd chanted, while children held pictures of the bomber. He looked pensive in one image, and held a machine gun in another.
Israel officials stated that Israel has considered the possibility that the suicide bomber was aided by Egyptian security forces. [8]