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Three killed in first suicide bombing to strike Eilat
In the first suicide bombing to strike Israel's southernmost city, a bomber blew himself up in an Eilat bakery shortly before 9:30 a.m. Monday morning, killing three people but wounding only a few others. Director of MDA in Eilat Robert Tolesco said that when paramedics arrived on the scene, they had found no one in need of medical attention. Surprisingly, only three people arrived at Yosephtal Hospital in Eilat following the bombing. All three required treatment for shock, and one woman was also suffering from ringing in her ears as a result of the explosion.

Al-Arabiya television reported on Monday that the bomber was Muhammad Faisal al-Saksak, a 21-year-old Gaza resident and member of Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades.
If my name was Mohammad Faisal al-Sucksuck I'd try and kill myself, too. I probably wouldn't have lasted until I was 21, either.
According to reports by security sources, at least two local residents had spotted the al-Saksak, whose heavy coat and large bag aroused their suspicions, and called the police. When al-Saksak - who, according to security forces, appeared to have stopped for coffee on his way to execute the bombing in a more crowded area - saw police cars approaching the bakery, he blew himself up.
"I'd like a coffee to go, infidel."
"Grande? Demi-grande? Latte? Double-latte? Expresso? Cappucino? Foam?"
"Oh hell with it!" [ka-boom!]
Benny Mazgini, 45, said he was in an apartment across the street when the building shook from the force of the blast. "It was awful - there was smoke, pieces of flesh all over the place," Mazgini said. Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, the Islamic Jihad (which until recently refused to sign any cease-fire agreements), and a new terror group calling itself "Army of Believers" claimed joint reponsibility for the attack.

Eilat firefighter Shahar Zaid told Channel 2 that the bombing had not resulted in a blaze, as often occurs after an explosion, and that because the bomber had blown up inside the bakery, the damage had been comparatively contained. According to Channel 2, Eilat authorities had recently received warnings of possible terror attacks. However, police later denied that there had been warnings.

Eilat's police commander said his forces were working to secure the city. "Our assumption is that it's not one bomber, and there might be more bombers in Eilat right now," Stein said.

Some two hours after the bombing, roadblocks had been erected at all entrances to and exits from Eilat. In addition, police raised the level of alert nationwide. Police and the Shin Bet were looking into the possibility that the bomber had infiltrated Israel from the Sinai Peninsula. Global Jihad cells are known to be operating just south of Israel's border with Egypt.

Only Saturday, Egyptian security forces arrested a 17-year-old Alexandria resident who told a taxi driver in Sinai that he intended to execute a suicide bombing in Israel. Egypt said in response to Monday's bombing that there was "no way" that either the bomber or the explosives used could have been smuggled through Sinai, Israel Radio reported.

No suicide attacks have been carried out in Israel since April 17, 2006, when nine people were killed after a bomber blew himself up at a shwarma restaurant in Tel Aviv's old central bus station. Islamic Jihad claimed that attack.
Posted by: ryuge 2007-01-29
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=179060