| 2003 French Hill suicide bombings | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Second Intifada militancy campaign | |
 The attack site | |
| Location | Jerusalem |
| Date | 18 May 2003 5:45 am |
Attack type | Suicide bombings |
| Deaths | 7 Israeli civilians (+ 1 bomber) |
| Injured | 20 Israeli civilians |
| Perpetrators | Hamas claimed responsibility |
The 2003 French hill suicide bombings was a twin suicide bombing of an Egged bus in the French Hill neighborhood of Jerusalem, on 18 May 2003. Seven passengers were killed in the attack, and 20 injured. A few minutes after the first attack, a second suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to the village of Dahiya el-Barid, near Jerusalem. Only the bomber was killed in what appeared to be a premature detonation.[1][2]
The attacks
The first attack took place at 5:45 am, during the morning rush hour, when a Palestinian suicide bomber disguised as a Haredi detonated a nail-studded explosive belt strapped to his body on a No. 6 passenger bus near the French Hill section of northern Jerusalem. Seven civilians were killed in the attack, including four Russian immigrants and an Arab resident of Jerusalem.[3] In addition, 20 were injured in the attack, four of them seriously.[1][2][3][4]
A few minutes after the first attack, another suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to the village of Dahiya el-Barid, near Jerusalem. Only the bomber was killed in what appeared to be a premature detonation.[1][2]
The perpetrator
Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, relatives of 19-year-old Hamas activist Bassem Jamil Tarkrouri, who originated from Hebron, officially identified him as the perpetrator of the attack.[3]
Official reactions
- Involved parties
Israel: Israeli officials spoke about the bombings, stating they "will continue to fight terror everywhere, at any time and in any way possible".[3]
Template:Country data Palestinian territories:
- Palestinian National Authority – PNA officials condemned the bombings.[3]
- International
USA – Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke about the bombings, stating "we in the strongest possible terms the horrific terrorist bombing."[5]
Russia – Russian officials condemned the attack, and called on the international community to "intensify efforts to combat terrorism and activate peace efforts for the Mideast".[6]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Seven dead in Israel bus bombing". The Age. 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "CNN.com – At least seven dead in terror attack in Jerusalem – May. 18, 2003". cnn.com. 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
Hama
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "USATODAY.com – Sharon calls off trip to U.S.; summit overshadowed by violence". USA Today. McLean, VA: Gannett. 18 May 2003. ISSN 0734-7456. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ↑ "Palestinian Terrorism- A Wave of Suicide Bombings". mfa.gov.il. 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ↑ NewsLibrary.com – newspaper archive, clipping service – newspapers and other news sources
- ↑ Bahrain News Agency | Russia condemns terrorist attacks in Israel
External links
- Jerusalem rocked by 2 suicide bombings – published in The San Diego Union-Tribune on 18 May 2003
Template:Terrorist attacks against Israelis in the 2000s Template:Palestinian militancy attacks in the 2000s