ISRAEL - WAR ON TERROR

Editor's Note: Graphic Content - Not For Children

TERROR SUICIDE BOMBER ATTACKS JERUSALEM RESTAURANT, 11 DEAD

ARAB TERRORISTS ATTACK NETANYA - 3 DEAD, 45 WOUNDED
Nine-month old Baby Girl Among the Dead

Photo: AP

Jerusalem-----March 9.......A terror suicide bomber has killed at least 11 people and wounded over 50 in a crowded restaurant in Jerusalem. The powerful blast ripped through the Moment cafe in Jerusalem's Rehavia neighborhood some 20 minutes ago.

The cafe, located on the corner of Aza and Ben-Maimon streets, is about 100 meters from the residence of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The popular cafe was packed with diners when the explosion occurred.

"There was a huge explosion, simply atomic," said one of the patrons, who gave only his first name, Eran. "There was smoke everywhere and an acrid smell of gunpowder. People were screaming. I've never seen anything like it in my life," he said.
At one of the several hospitals that received victims, a waitress, who declined to give her name, said she had spotted the bomber just before he exploded. "He was standing at the entrance, right inside the door," she said. "I was on my way from the bar to the front door to give someone a bill when there was this terrible noise. People were on top of each other, and then it was very quiet, and I ran to the kitchen and climbed through a window."

Photo: IBA

Moments after the blast, a reporter saw the body of a young man on the floor of the cafe. The blast had blown out windows and singed chairs. Bits of blood and flesh were strewn across the sidewalk. In the street, police bomb experts moved from parked car to parked car, smashing windows in search for possible explosives hidden in the vehicles.

Yassar Arafat's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for Saturday's attacks. The terror group has taken responsibility for a recent series of bloody attacks on Israeli civilians. The Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas, which the U.S. State Department labels a terrorist organization, also claimed responsibility for the Jerusalem cafe attack.

Two hours before the attack in Jerusalem, two Arab terrorists attacked the seaside city of Netanya, killing 3 and wounding over 45 people. A nine-month old baby girl was among the dead. The attack took place at approx. 8:30 p.m. by the hotel district on Gad Mahnes street.

The terror attack victims were rushed to Hillel Yaffe and Laniado Hospitals.

At a Jerusalem restaurant, an Israeli terror victim with his left arm blown off,
now struggling to stay alive
Photo: AP

First reports stated that automatic weapons were fired on women and children who were strolling near the promenade. Grenades were thrown into the lobby of one hotel - killing nine-month-old Avia Malka.
As the weather in Israel is warm, many civilians were out walking in the area when the attack took place. Ambulances from Netanya, Hadera, Ra'anana and Kfar Sava are presently rushing to the scene.

Photo: AFP

Israel radio had reported that the two terrorists were killed by policeman patrolling the area. One off-duty Israeli soldier, who was returning fire at the gunmen, was mistaken for a terrorist and was also killed in the attack.

On Israel television, one can see women and children in blood stained clothing walking into filled ambulances.
Hotel lobby floors are filled with pools of blood.

Israeli terror victims lay dead in a Jerusalem restaurant where they had been sitting
Photo: AP/ Michael Freilich

The INA has unconfirmed reports that a fourth terrorist may still be at large, with shooting being heard in other areas of the city. Police and security forces have sealed off the city. The INA also has reports that the IDF is presently attacking terrorist targets in Gaza and in the West Bank. It appears that the Israeli government will not provide time for these terrorists to celebrate the barabric attack on civilians in Netanya.

Netanya is located on the coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa. The area which was attacked was the most popular area visited by the city's residents.

Photo: AP/ Michael Freilich

An emergency hotline has been set up at Hillel Yaffe Hospital for relatives and friends of the wounded: tel. 125-5166. Outside of Israel please dial 972.

ISRAEL NEWS AGENCY