A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up near a Jerusalem hotel a few minutes ago.
The blast took place in front of the David Citadel Hotel on King David Street shortly after 07:30.
Six people waiting at a nearby bus stop were lightly wounded by shards of glass and metal fragments in the explosion, police report.
They were taken to Hadassah University Hospital on Mt. Scopus and Shaare Zedek Hospital for treatment.
The terrorist was killed in the blast.
No group has taken responsibility for the bombing.
Police said the nail and metal-studded bomb was very powerful.
There is heavy damage to the glass-fronted building.
Windows of numerous cars in the vicinity were blown out by the force of the explosion.
The area has been cordoned off as police search for further explosives.
Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, Minister of Internal Security Uzi Landau, and Religious Affairs Minister Asher Ohana were guests at the hotel, Israel Radio reports.
US envoy Anthony Zinni is staying at a hotel in the vicinity, but was unhurt in the blast.
He reportedly heard the explosion.
Police believe the bomber was en route to carry out an attack in nearby downtown Jerusalem, but the explosive device detonated prematurely.
The hotel is in West Jerusalem, close to the Old City.
Jerusalem police chief Cmdr. Mickey Levy said at a briefing that police has doubled their presence in the city since the triple bombing on Saturday night.
Levy was on nearby Agron Street area when the blast took place.
He told Army Radio he was en route to a meeting with Landau at the hotel.
The explosion "is yet another demonstration of the Palestinian determination to use terrorism and to inflict heavy damages on the Israeli population," said Emanuel Nahshon, a Foreign Ministry spokesman who was at the scene.
"It's is Arafat's duty to fight terror and put terrorists in jail. If he doesn't do it, Israel will have to do it."
To hear Etgar Lefkovits' report for JPost Radio, click here.
Massive military action, US pressure, and the economic suffering of his people have only a limited effect on Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, according to a psychological portrait and strategic analysis of him just conducted at the Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism at the Interdisciplinary Center-Herzliya.
To read more, click here.
Israel tries to negotiate with the Palies, and as a gesture of goodwill lets down their defenses (pulls out from some PA areas).
Over two dozen Israelis die in separate terror attacks.
Now, Israel goes on a massive offensive, and six people are lightly wounded.
I think Israel will be less likely to back down in the future, the Israelis are much safer when the Palestinians are under siege.
Arafat accused Sharon of trying to undermine his efforts to combat terrorism.
Teaching their children the Muslim way of Jihads
Of course this wouldn't stop all of it, but it sure would be nice to see a lot of dead suicide bombers without taking innocent people with them!
Bump OFF Arafat!
Bump OFF Hamas!
But first, Bump Osama bin FLintstone off!
I hope that they took pictures. They should send them to the family of the "idiot" - if there is enough left of him to identify him. Wouldn't hurt to send copies to all of the madrassas(sp?).
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