Posted on 05/29/2004 4:53:09 PM PDT by Petronski
Senior Hamas Leader Is Killed in Blast in Gaza City
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 29, 2004
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- An explosion destroyed a motorcycle in Gaza City early Sunday, killing a founder of Hamas' military wing, his aide and a bystander.
Hamas charged that Israel was responsible for what it called a "dirty assassination crime."
It said the attack killed Wael Nassar, 38, one of the founders of the Hamas military wing Izzedine al-Qassam. His assistant, Mohammed Sarsour, 31; and an unidentified bystander were also killed, Hamas said.
The two Hamas leaders were on the motorcycle when it exploded, witnesses said.
It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion. Witnesses said they saw a flash in the sky and then the motorcycle exploded, indicating an Israeli missile strike. The residents said they did not see any Israeli helicopters in the sky, though they heard an unmanned Israeli plane.
The Israeli military refused to comment.
Hospital officials said seven people were slightly wounded, including a woman and three children.
The explosion was in the Zeitoun neighborhood, scene of heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinians earlier this month. That fighting broke out after Palestinians blew up an Israeli armored personnel carrier, killing six soldiers.
Outside the hospital, angry Palestinians, most of them Hamas supporters, chanted "God is great." Amplified statements from local mosques mourned Nassar.
One of Nassar's brothers was killed when Israeli forces assassinated Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi on April 17, and seven other relatives were killed in earlier clashes with Israeli forces, Palestinians said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Motorcycle helmets are no longer required in PA.
....oh wait, that's Pennsylvania. Nevermind.
Palestinians gather next to the remains of a motorcycle after it was hit an Israeli helicopter at Zaitoon neighborhood in Gaza city, Sunday May 30, 2004. An explosion ripped apart a motorcycle in Gaza City early Sunday, residents said, killing three people _ including a senior Hamas commander and his assistant. Hamas charged that Israel was responsible for what it called a 'dirty assassination crime' killing Wael Nassar, 38, a top Hamas commander, and his assistant, Mohammed Sarsour, 31, his assistant,and a bystander. The two Hamas leaders were on the motorcycle when it exploded, witnesses said. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Looks like a riceburner. Yamaha Fazer, perhaps?
Ah yes, the exploding motorcycle trick. Betcha didn't know it works with donkeys and camels too. Even wheelchairs on occasion.
If one tinkers a little with the fuel tank (adding nitromethane and nitroglycerol into it) the motorcycle engine is sure to blow up, and if it was a lot of these additives, then it will blow up real well, igniting and detonating the fuel tank. And no helicopters or anything else needed.
When is Al-Sadr going to resemble a 'boston butt' left in the smoker too long?
Hamas Leader on a motorcycle
EVIL KNEVIL?
Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
[with acknowledgement to Steppenwolf]
Terror reigns from the sky.
That song by Steppenwolf always gives me shivers.
I'd say it's one of the ultimate songs.
I dunno, sounds more like a "work accident" to me. Premature martyrization maybe?
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