Militant killed 'making bomb'

A member of the militant group Islamic Jihad was killed today when the bomb he was making exploded in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Palestinian security officials and witnesses said.

Omar Abu Zayed, 25, was making the bomb in his blacksmiths shop in the Doha district across from the Deheishe refugee camp when the device exploded, Palestinian security officials said.

Abu Zayed was a known member of Islamic Jihad, which has claimed responsibility for scores of attacks against Israelis.

At the shop in the two-storey building today after the blast, Abu Zayed’s father was seen crying, surrounded by Palestinian security officials.

The Israeli army said it had no immediate comment and was checking the report.

The 14 months of fighting has killed a total of 751 people on the Palestinian side and 196 on the Israeli side.