TEL AVIV, Israel — Two suicide bombers blew themselves up within seconds of each other Sunday evening, killing themselves and at least 22 people, and injuring more than 100 others in a neighborhood packed with foreign workers.
The al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a group linked to Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the attacks. It identified the suicide bombers as two of its members: Murad Abdul Rahman Khulafa, 21, and Smaer Immad Nori, 19, both
of Nablus.
Only hours after the Tel Aviv explosions, Israeli Apache helicopters bombed sites in Gaza City, hitting two Palestinian Authority offices and a building in the market, Israel State Radio reported. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had assembled his security cabinet before the Gaza strike, and they continued to meet late into the night.
Sunday’s suicide bombings were the worst attacks since a June bus bombing in Jerusalem killed 19 passengers and triggered Israel’s reoccupation of most West Bank towns in an attempt to prevent such suicide bombings.
The Palestinian Authority strongly denounced the attacks and condemned the killing of all civilians, whether Israelis or Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority promised to punish those involved.
Cabinet Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said those responsible are “serving the Sharon electoral campaign.” Israeli elections are scheduled later this month, and political observers say suicide bombings boost the popularity of hard-line candidates who advocate strong military action against the Palestinians.
Israeli officials insisted that regardless of which Palestinian faction carried out the attack, Arafat is to blame.
“Terrorists have the infrastructure to commit these attacks because the Palestinian Authority gives it to them,” said David Saranga, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman. “These terrorists have documents; these terrorists have explosives; these terrorists have monetary support.”
President Bush quickly condemned Sunday’s attacks “in the strongest possible terms,” White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said. “There are those who want to derail the peace process. But the president will not be deterred. Innocent people have a right to live in safety.”
In the neighborhood of the Old Central Bus Station, onlookers watched in quiet disbelief as rescue workers and police dogs searched for victims late into Sunday night. According to Israeli police, one bomber blew himself up in front of a Chinese restaurant on a street lined with cafes and shops; the other did so seconds later in front of a bus stop 200 yards away. Survivors fled the neighborhood that was streaked with blood and littered with glass.
The blasts were so strong that people inside houses and shops were injured. The bombers, who blew up about 200 yards apart, each were wearing 33 pounds of explosives, according to Israel State Radio.
Police were searching Sunday night for a black Honda Civic that was seen speeding away from the scene of the attack toward the West Bank.