Palestinian Suicide Terror Bomber Attacks Elderly in Rishon Letzion

Photo: Reuters

Jerusalem-----May 22.......An Arab suicide bomber disguised with Western looking blonde hair and jeans, sought out a target of innocent civilians this evening to murder using explosives wrapped around his waist. The civilians who were to be murdered were not in the West Bank or Gaza, nor was the target an Israeli settlement or military base. The suicide bomber spotted a group of elderly men playing chess on an outdoor promenade in Rishon Letzion and unleashed an explosion which has killed three and wounded dozens.

Palestinians call this man a "freedom fighter". A hero who seeks out elderly citizens or women with children and rips apart their bodies with an array of shrapnel consisting of screws, twisted nails, bolts, ball bearings and other assorted pieces of metal which have been saturated in rat posion.

Elderly Jewish civilians have now become the new target of Arab terrorists
who call themselves "freedom fighters" Photo: AP

The terror blast occurred at about 9:30 p.m. near the city promenade at the junction of Herzl and Rothschild streets and, as usual, was crowded with people shopping or simply walking.
It was the second such attack in the city in two weeks.

Police and security forces sealed off the entire area after the terror attack and moved bystanders away in fearing that there may secondary explosions waiting to go off targeting emergency medical and rescue personnel.

Sappers combed the area as Magen David Adom paramedics gave first aid to the wounded and then evacuated them to hospitals - Assaf Harofeh in Tzrifin, Sheba in Tel Hashomer, and Wolfson in Holon.

Five of the wounded were reported to be in serious condition and they underwent surgery last night. The remainder were reported to be suffering from light-to-moderate wounds and shock.

Senor security sources reiterated calls to the public to be on full alert amid warnings of further attacks.

"This was another cowardly act of terror committed by Palestinian terrorists who have once again resorted to their murderous deeds. Israel will not buckle under in the face of terror and we will use whatever measures are needed to root it out." - David Baker, Spokesperson, Prime Minister's Office

Shfela District police chief Asst.-Cmdr. Haim Cohen called for more information from members of the public about the attack and the terrorist.

"According to eyewitnesses, he had a Western European appearance and had short, dyed blonde hair, like that of a punk and certainly not like an Arab. I believe he disguised himself so that he would not stand out in the environment," Cohen said.

Rishon Lezion Deputy Mayor David Elimelech said the attack occurred near Gan Ha'ir - a place with sheltered benches for people to sit which is often used by the elderly.

Elimelech said it was fortunate the terrorist had not been able to find a target in an enclosed space, where the casualties would have been much worse.

He stressed that there are guards on duty in the area day and night, but that it is impossible to protect every meter of every place in the city.

"Most of the people around Gan Ha'ir were older new immigrants playing chess. I saw a number of bodies; it was an awful scene," a witness stated. "If they can come to our homes and spill the blood of people who were playing chess a moment before, this means there is no peace. My mother and father are here every night, but not tonight."

Police launched a widespread search for a green car seen by several witnesses leaving the area shortly before the blast and may have transported the suicide bomber to his target.