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Major Bombing Attack in Israel

27-03-2002, 18:52

The Park Hotel

At least 15 killed and over 70 injured in a bombing in Israel. The attack took place at the Park Hotel in the coastal city of Netanya, north of Tel Aviv, at 7:20 Wednesday, as Israelis were sitting down to celebrate the traditional Passover dinner.

Israeli media reported that the explosion went off in the packed hotel dining room next to the lobby. Dozens of hotel guests were killed or injured, including numerous children. Eyewitnesses told news agencies that the hotel lobby had been completely destroyed in the blast.

It was not immediately clear if the blast was the work of a Palestinian suicide bomber or if a bomb had been set in place. Israeli police, fearful of the possibility that the bomber may still be at large, closed off the area.

Hotel lobby where the explosion took place

Passover is an important Jewish holiday, and Jewish families congregate in large numbers to celebrate the traditional Passover dinner together. Israeli security authorities had been understandably anxious about an attack in such circumstances, and had taken intense measures, including roadblocks and searches. These measures all turned out to be of no avail.

Netanya is an important center of tourism, offering several hotels along its Mediterranean beaches. The city has been the location of several Palestinian attacks over the past months of conflict, and lies very close to the Palestinian town of Kalkilyah. (www.albawaba.com)