The Liberty Bell Park bus bombing was a suicide bombing which occurred on February 22, 2004 in Egged bus No. 14A in Jerusalem. Eight passengers were killed in the attack and over 60 people were injured, many of them were children on their way to school. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.[1]
| 2004 Jerusalem bus No. 14A suicide bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Second Intifada militancy campaign | |
 Memorial plaque for bombing victims | |
  Location of Jerusalem | |
| Native name | הפיגוע בקו 14א |
| Location | Jerusalem |
| Date | February 22, 2004 c. 8:30 am (GMT+2) |
Attack type | Suicide bombing |
| Deaths | 8 Israeli civilians (+1 bomber) |
| Injured | 60 Israeli civilians |
| Perpetrator | Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility |
The attack
editOn Sunday, February 22, 2004, during the morning rush hour, a Palestinian suicide bomber got on the 14a bus traveling to downtown Jerusalem. The suicide bomber had an explosive device hidden in a backpack which was stuffed with metal scraps to maximize casualties.[2] Police believe he boarded the bus in the Talpiot industrial zone.[3]
The suicide bomber waited for the bus to fill up with passengers. At approximately 8:30 am, as the bus passed Liberty Bell park on the edge of Emek Refaim, the main street of the German Colony, he detonated the explosive device.[4]
Eight people were killed in the attack and more than 60 people were injured, 11 of whom were schoolchildren.[5]
The perpetrator
editThe al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that the attacker was 23-year-old Mohammed Zaul from the village of Husan in the West Bank.[6] After the attack a video of the suicide bomber was released in which Zaul claimed he carried out the attack in revenge "for the massacre perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians."[7]
Official reactions
editIsraeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom condemned the attack, citing it as proof that the Israeli West Bank barrier was justified and imperative to prevent such incidents from recurring.[citation needed]
Palestinian National Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia condemned the attack and stated that it gave Israel an excuse to continue building the West Bank barrier.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "CNN.com - Transcripts". Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- ^ "Bomber Kills 8, Self On Bus In Jerusalem". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- ^ Suicide bombing of Egged bus no. 14A in Jerusalem
- ^ "USATODAY.com - At least 8 die in Israel bus blast". USA Today. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- ^ "Suicide bombing of Egged bus no. 14A in Jerusalem". Archived from the original on April 23, 2004.
- ^ "Jerusalem Bus Bombing Kills 8, Wounds 59 (washingtonpost.com)". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- ^ Ynet, כתבי (February 22, 2004). "ynet למרות הפיגוע: לא צפויה תגובה חריפה מצד ישראל - חדשות". ynet. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- ^ "Newsday - The Long Island and New York City News Source". Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
External links
edit- Suicide bombing of Egged bus no. 14A in Jerusalem - published at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- At least 8 die in Israel bus blast - published on USA Today on February 22, 2004
- Jerusalem suicide bomber kills eight Archived 2012-11-07 at the Wayback Machine - published on the Jerusalem Post on February 23, 2004
- Jerusalem Suicide Blast Kills 8 - published on CBS News on February 23, 2004