ENN FLASH TRAFFIC 01/09/97 - 12:35CST

Explosion in Tel Aviv
By Paul Anderson, Correspondent

(ENN) Early and as yet unconfirmed reports are being received of an explosion in Tel Aviv, Israel. Several injuries are believed to have resulted. Few other details are available at this time. ENN is monitoring this situation and will provide updates as more becomes available.

Follow-Up ENN News Flash 01/09/96 - 12:46CST

Tel-Aviv Explosion - 8:33pm

(SNS News Service - Shomron-Israel) It is being reported that an explosion of unknown origin has gone off in the old Tel-Aviv Central Bus Station. Five persons are reported to have been injured. The explosion has taken place near Neve Sha'anan Street.

Two separate explosions were heard according to witnesses and a third "suspicious item" is being checked by security officials.

Although first reports are not certain, police are transmitting over their two-way radios that this is indeed, a terrorist attack. At least one of the injured is a policeman.

Courtesy of SNS News Service, Israel

ENN Update: 13:06CST

TEL-AVIV EXPLOSION - 8:33PM

(SNS News Service - Shomron-Israel) At least two separate explosions went off this evening on Neve Sha'anan Street in downtown Tel-Aviv, near the old Tel-Aviv Central Bus Station. First reports of the explosions were announced at about 8:30pm. Eye witnesses reported a time lapse of about seven minutes between the blasts.

According to eyewitnesses, at least two separate explosions were heard. A third device is being checked by security officials and bomb experts.

According to MDA, Israel's Emergency Medical Service, six persons, including at least one policeman, were injured. One of the six was injured seriously and the remainder sustained light injuries. Five of the victims were transported to Tel-Aviv's Ichilov Hospital and one made it to the emergency room on his own.

Police are being very cautious and have not labeled this a terrorist attack as of yet. It appear likely but this has not yet been confirmed. Large numbers of security officials have arrived on the scene and searches are underway to ascertain if additional explosive devices have been placed in the area. Senior police officials on the scene have now stated it appears that this was indeed a terrorist attack and fortunately, the explosive devices were relatively small in size.

SNS News Service, Shomron Hills, Israel - (C) copyright 1997. Website: http://www.snsnews.co.il

ENN FLASH TRAFFIC 01/09/97 - 13:53CST

Bomb Threat in Jerusalem Bus Station
By: C. L. Staten, ERRI Senior Analyst

(ENN) According to reliable sources in Israel, and received within the past 5 minutes, another bomb threat has just been received in regard to the Jerusalem bus station on Jaffa Road. Few details are available at this time, except that special police units and explosive ordinance disposal teams have been dispatched to the Jaffa road location. This threat follows two explosions in Tel Aviv, within the past few hours.

ENN can not confirm that there are explosive devices in Jerusalem, but only that officials there are taking the threats seriously. ENN continues to monitor developments in Israel and will provide updates as more becomes available.

ENN Update: 17:08CST

Tel-Aviv Recap
By Yechiel Spira, Editor in Chief, SNS News Service

The Police Department is calling tonight's two bombs a terrorist attack. The area of Neve Sha'anan Street in downtown Tel-Aviv was closed for several hours following the blast. Police were concerned over the possibility of additional explosive devices in the area.

Thirteen persons were injured and transported to Ichilov and Wolfson Hospitals. (The number of victims varies from the various sources quoted. More detailed reports regarding the wounded will be available in subsequent reports).

Wolfson reports having received two victims. The first, a 45-year-old Israeli, who sustained shrapnel wounds to his leg. The second, a foreign worker who sustained shrapnel wounds to his chest and leg. According to Dr. Jacques Asheroff, the two were injured lightly and may be released tonight.

Ichilov reports having received eleven victims of the two blasts. Another patient was brought in to Ichilov Hospital. He was hit by the speeding ambulance en route to the emergency room. His condition is unknown.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanayhu was meeting with US special negotiator Dennis Ross when the fist explosive went off. PLO Authority officials suggested to Israeli officials that Damascus based PFLP terrorists were responsible for the two blasts. Security officials stated the explosive devices were pipe bombs filled with explosive materials and steel nails.

Security officials did not receive intelligence reports pointing to an attack in the coming days. Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the injured in Ichilov Hospital. He added the terrorists will be hunted down. "If the terrorist(s) come from PLO-controlled areas, it will not pass. We cannot negotiate on the one hand while attacks are being carried out against us," stated the Prime Minster. Police have announced that one suspect is in custody at this time.

Police have also received threats of explosive devices having been placed in the Jerusalem Central Bus Station, on Jaffa Road. The reports came in to police at about 10:00pm. Although it was unknown if the threats were a hoax, they were being treated in a most serious fashion. Police, demolition experts and other security officials were immediately dispatched to the Jaffa Road temporary quarters of the Central Bus Station.

Sources: Channels 1 & 2 Radio/TV, CNN, SNS, Galei Tzahal/Army Radio..1/9

ENN Recap/Prime Minister's Response - 20:58CST

ISRAEL PROMISES 'SEVERE RESPONSE' TO BOMBING
By Alijandra Mogliner, Special to ENN

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has promised a 'severe response' to tonight's bomb attack at the old central bus station in Tel Aviv, if it was proven to be the work of Palestinian terrorists.

The Prime Minister was reportedly in talks with US envoy Dennis Ross when news of the bomb attack was brought to him.

Thirteen people were injured in the attack, including two policemen caught in a second bomb blast apparently designed to catch rescue workers and policemen.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Islamic newsletter Al Akhbar noted that both Hamas and Islamic Jihad had vowed to avenge the incident last week in which soldier Noam Friedman opened fire in a Hebron market.

It also quoted a Palestinian Authority official as saying that the 'deterioration of talks' made 'anti-Zionist attacks a possibility.'

Sources: BBC, KOL ISRAEL, AL AKHBAR...1/9

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