Fears for tourists’ safety as hotel blast leaves 15 dead

THERE were renewed fears last night that terrorists were targeting tourists after twin attacks on an Israeli hotel and passenger plane in Africa.

At least 15 people died after a bomb blast ripped through the Paradise Hotel in Mombasa, Kenya early yesterday. In another attack, two missiles were fired at an Israeli holiday jet that had taken off from Mombasa airport.

The missiles narrowly missed the Arkia airline plane, a Boeing 757 carrying 261 passengers. The plane later landed safely.

A large part of the Paradise Hotel was reduced to rubble and the rest was reduced to a smouldering shell. Kenyan police said three suicide bombers were killed, along with nine Kenyans and three Israelis, two of whom were children. About 80 people were injured in the attack, most of them Kenyans.

Mombasa police have detained two people who were in the area of the hotel and are examining the crater left by the car bomb.

In Lebanon, a previously unknown group called the Army of Palestine said it carried out the attacks. However, Kenyan and Israeli officials blamed Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaida network for the attacks.

The US Government condemned the attacks, but said it was too early to blame al-Qaida.

"The United States Government deplores this violence," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe. "We stand prepared to offer the governments of Kenya and Israel any assistance necessary in this investigation."

If confirmed as the work of al-Qaida, the attack would be their first direct attack on Israelis despite Bin Laden's hostility towards Israel.

Mombasa, on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, is a popular destination and the hotel was frequented mainly by Israeli tourists.

In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and neighbouring Tanzania were attacked in nearly simultaneous car bombings that killed 219 people and 12 people respectively. Al-Qaida was blamed for the attacks. Synchronised attacks are an Al-Qaida hallmark, and security experts said months of careful surveillance went into the latest attacks.

Witnesses said an all-terrain vehicle with three men on board crashed through a barrier outside the Paradise Hotel and headed towards the lobby.

One man got out and ran towards the reception, where he set off an explosion, while the others stayed in the vehicle, which blew up at the same time. The blast occurred just after some 60 Israeli visitors had checked into the hotel.