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Police inspect the scene at Mike's Place, a popular nightspot near the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv. (AP)
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| By israelinsider staff April 30, 2003 |
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A suicide bomber exploded shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday morning after being prevented by a security guard from entering Mike's Place, a music pub next to the United States embassy on Tel Aviv's seafront promenade. Three Israelis were killed and 55 people were injured, seven of them seriously.
One of the victims was identified as Yani Weiss, 46, from Holon. Weiss was a member of the band performing at the pub on Tuesday night. A second victim was identified as Ran Baron, 24, from Tel Aviv.
Two of the injured were tourists - one from the United States and one from France. Eleven of the injured were IDF soldiers; all of them sustained light injuries in the blast, media sources reported.
The bomb was described as medium in size and included several kilograms of explosive material, nuts and bolts. Tel Aviv Police Commissioner Yossi Sedbon said there were no intelligence warnings of an impending terror attack in Tel Aviv. Sedbon also commended the security guard, who was moderately injured in the blast, for fulfilling his duty and preventing a more serious tragedy.
The bomb blew the front off the restaurant and destroyed walls, doors and furniture inside.
Scenes of chaos were broadcast from the scene in the crowded entertainment district. Bloodied young people were shown on television reports lying on the ground, being assisted by scores of police. Ambulances were still removing victims an hour after the explosion.
An eyewitness, Yvonne, said she saw a man she described as "fat" arrive at the entrance and talk to the guard, who prevented him from entering the pub, which was crowded with dozens of young people. According to an Army Radio report, the guard and the bomber had a heated exchange and then the explosion occurred.
There were unconfirmed reports that employees of the U.S. embassy were present at the time of the explosion. The well-protected embassy itself was not damaged.
The attack occurred about a mile from the beachfront Dolphinarium, scene of a devastating attack against young people outside a disco in the spring of 2001.
The attack came hours after the Palestinian Parliament approved the Cabinet presented by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). In a speech before the vote, Abbas condemned terrorism and promised his new government would crack down on militant groups.
But the Islamic terror group Hamas pledged to continue its attacks on Israel, as did the Al-Aksa Martyr's Brigade of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.
The Tanzim and Hamas claimed joint responsibility for the Tel Aviv bombing, Israel Radio reported. According to the organizations, the bomber was a youth from Tulkarm.
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