FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 23:15CST-02/24/96
Chicago, IL, February 25, 1996 --A large explosion has rocked the central bus station in Jerusalem, Israel this morning (approx. 07:00a.m. Israeli time)and multiple casualties are being reported, according to a local Emergency Medical Service (EMS) official. A "device" is believed to have totally destroyed the #18 bus, filled with soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces, and damaged several other vehicles.
Numerous ambulances and police officials are reportedly enroute or on the scene of this latest disaster involving the bombing of a bus in a central business district. Rescuers are combing through a smoking ruins of what was a bustling bus station. Although unconfirmed by official Israeli sources, at least fifteen (15) people were believed dead and at least thirty (30) others wounded by what is being called a "massive detonation." The wounded have been taken Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, Haddassah Ein Karem Hospital and the Shaare Medical Center. The number of injured and dead is expected to rise.
Speculation as to the perpetrators of the blast is centering on Islamic extremists, who have been threatening to attack "the heart of Israel" for several weeks. No one has claimed responsibility at the time of this report, but counter-terrorist experts say that they fear that it may be in retaliation for the recent death of a Palestinian bombmaker called "The Engineer", who was allegedly killed by forces close to the Israeli intelligence community. ENN and other sources had previously reported fundamentalist threats and concerns of revenge to follow the end of Ramadan. It would appear that these dire predictions came true this morning, in the worst possible way, in a crowded bus station in Jerusalem.
A second device is reported to have exploded at another bus depot, near Ashkelon Junction, a known hitchhiking spot for IDF soldiers. This second devastating blast is described by authorities as "the entire bus stop erupted into a ball of flames". At least two additonal deaths are reported there and as many as ten others injuried Additional details regarding the second blast are extremely sketchy at the time of this report, but it appears to be an extremely serious incident as well.
Details are still coming in about these breaking stories and ENN is receiving periodic updates from our affiliate, the SNS News Service, in Jerusalem. More as it becomes available.
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