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Emergency personnel evacuating the wounded from the Park Hotel after the attack on Wednesday.
(Photo: AP) |
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At least 15 people were killed and over 100 were wounded when a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a hotel in the coastal town of Netanya at around 7:30 P.M. Wednesday evening.
The terrorist walked into the lobby of the Park Hotel, in the center of the city, where a large number of people were participating in the Passover service, and detonated the explosive device he was wearing on his body.
Hezbollah's television station, Al Manar, reported that the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Qatar-based Al Jazeera television station reported that Hamas also took responsibility for the attack.
The wounded were taken to Laniado Hospital in Netanya, Meir Hospital in Kfar Sava and Hillel Yaffeh Medical Center in Hadera.
A total of 62 people were taken to Laniado hospital, 15 in serious condition. Of the seriously wounded, a 45-year-old man and a 5-year-old boy, both with head injuries, were later moved from Laniado to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva.
The hotel's security guard was uninjured in the attack.
Eyewitness Pinchas Butlono, a member of the hotel staff, said that he was in the hotel elevator when he heard the blast and went to help the injured. He said that there were some 250 people at the hotel's Pesach service, which had begun at 7 P.M.
Police have detained three Arab workers, who started at the hotel a few weeks ago, and are investigating any connection between them and the attack.
The area is sealed off to traffic and people have been asked not to approach. Security forces are checking how a terrorist succeeded in entering the city after security was beefed up for the holiday.
A search of the area is being conducted for further explosive devices and suicide bombers.
Israel Police Commissioner, Shlomo Aharonishki, said it was impossible to prevent all attacks. "Even with more policemen and a broader deployment, we cannot block the centers of the cities," Aharonishki said. "This attack is more evidence of that."
Netanya Mayor Miram Feyerberg also said that preventing such attacks was impossible. "This is a city that can be infiltrated from many different directions. It's simply unbelievable," she said.
On March 9, two Palestinians opened fire on a nearby hotel, killing two people, including a baby girl, and wounding dozens of others.
Emergency numbers:
Hillel Yaffeh Medical Center:12 55 166
Laniado Hospital: 12 55 191
Meir Hospital: 12 55 199 |