ISLAMIC TERROR
BOMBER KILLS ONE, WOUNDS NINE IN HERZLIA INA On The Scene
Jerusalem----June 11......An Islamic terror suicide bomber casually walked into a small Herzlia falafel restaurant, asked for a glass of water and then detonated a charge killing a 15 year-old girl and wounding nine others. The
blast took place just after rush hour, as the streets were moderately
filled with shoppers and businessmen heading home. The
INA arrived at the scene of the terrorist attack about 5 minutes
after the explosion. A few soldiers and myself rushed off the bus and ran over to where 3-4 police cars and a fire engine had already arrived - about 200 meters from the bus.One must truly commend the police, fire and medical emergency services for getting there so quickly, seconds that literally saved the survivors of this barbaric assault on civilians who were eating sandwiches and drinking coffee. This
was the very heart of Herzlia, a middle-upper class neighborhood just
north of Tel Aviv. Many reporters have erred in reporting that this
was a resort town, of which it's not, that it was a very wealthy area
- home to foreign ambassadors, which it's not. The city adjacent to
Herzlia, sitting on the coast, is Herzlia Pituach for which much of
the media were confused with. Yael German - the mayor of Herzlia immediately coordinated several interviews with the wire services and foreign press in describing the carnage to get out the message that innocent people, children had just been attacked. Police were very concerned about secondary explosions and in fact had found explosives on the suicide bomber's body which had not detonated. All emergency personnel immediately evacuated the restaurant as they defused the remaining bombs. At one point I was standing about ten feet from the suicide bombers body which had been sitting face up shredded in half - you could easily see blood pouring out onto the sidewalk with his intestines and stomach hanging out. He was partially draped in a black body bag. What was striking was that from the mid chest up to his head not a scratch. He had a well trimmed beard - 30 ish looking - large build with sort of a satisfied and proud look on his face. But what was even more striking was that there was absolutely no panic, no fear in the eyes of both the emergency workers and the people of Herzlia. The emergency workers had in fact set up a communications tent right in the middle of the street within fifteen minutes of the attack. Police and soldiers were surveying the crowd looking for additional terrorists, Islamic madmen who thought they might penetrate a very tight perimeter to attack rescue workers. Even the Mayor had a difficult time to enter this crime area. I don't
believe that any other society could be as prepared nor conditioned
for terrorist attacks as we are here in Israel. Once
the Palestinian terrorists realize this - they can then commit suicide
in their own homes if they are in such a rush to meet "72 virgins
in paradise". |