June 11, 2003; 20 years ago (2003-06-11) c. 17:30 pm
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Deaths
17 civilians (+1 bomber)
Injured
Approximately 100 civilians
Perpetrator
Hamas claimed responsibility
A suicide bombing took place on June 11, 2003, on Egged bus line 14a at Davidka Square in the center of Jerusalem. 17 people were killed in the attack and over 100 people were injured.
At about 17:30 pm on Wednesday, June 11, 2003, a Palestinian suicide bomber dressed as an Orthodox Jew, boarded bus No. 14a at the Mahane Yehuda market bus stop on Jaffa Road. At Davidka Square, the bomber detonated his explosive device, which contained a large quantity of metal shrapnel designed to cause maximum casualties.[1][2][3]
17 people were killed in the attack and more than 100 people were injured, including dozens of passersby.[1][2]
The perpetrator
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that the attack was an act of vengeance for the Israeli assassination attempt on the senior Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi on Tuesday, June 10, 2003. Rantisi survived the assassination attempt during which Israeli helicopters fired missiles at his car.[1]
Shortly after the bus attack, Israeli helicopters fired rockets at a moving car in Gaza that was carrying two senior Hamas members, among others. All of the car's six passengers were killed, including Hamas leader Tito Masoud.[5][6][7]
Official reactions
Involved partiesIsrael: A spokesman for the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon stated that the suicide attack indicates that the Palestinians have done nothing to crack down on militants.[5]
USA – US President George Bush condemned the attack and urged all nations to cut off financial assistance to terrorists and "isolate those who hate so much that they are willing to kill."[8]
^ a b c"BBC NEWS | Middle East | Suicide blast hits Jerusalem bus". BBC News. London: BBC. June 11, 2003. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
^ a b"Jerusalem bus attack death toll rises to 17 - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News". haaretz.com. 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
^"Suicide bombing of Egged bus No 14A in Jerusalem -". mfa.gov.il. 2011. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
^Preston, Julia (April 15, 2006). "Hurt by Hamas, Americans Sue Banks in U.S." The New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
^ a b c"16 Killed on Israeli Bus; 7 Die in Gaza". Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
^NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources
^Israel Hits Gaza after Jerusalem Bombing : NPR
^USATODAY.com - Bush condemns Jerusalem bus bombing
External links
Jerusalem Bus Bomb Kills 17 as Strife Rises; Airstrikes in Gaza Kill 9 Palestinians; Bush Plan Is Tested Archived 2012-11-07 at the Wayback Machine - published on The Washington Poston June 12, 2003
Israel: A spokesman for the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon stated that the suicide attack indicates that the Palestinians have done nothing to crack down on militants.[5]
USA – US President George Bush condemned the attack and urged all nations to cut off financial assistance to terrorists and "isolate those who hate so much that they are willing to kill."[8]
