Up to seven feared dead in Jerusalem suicide attack

A suicide bomber attacked a packed Jerusalem pizza restaurant during lunchtime today - killing between four and seven people and wounding 30.

Police said initial indications were that a bomber detonated his explosives inside the Sbarro restaurant, located at one of the busiest street corners in the heart of the city.

The restaurant and the streets were full with people on their lunch breaks at the time of the blast.

Bodies were left lying in the restaurant window after the blast The inside was gutted, with shards of glass and debris littering the streets outside.

Chairs from the restaurant were strewn on the pavement and people were crying and huddled on the street.

"I heard a loud boom and I came out of the store and saw a woman with a baby covered with blood," said Sarit Barashy, who was shopping nearby.

"The street was full of blood."

At least three people were killed, according to Jerusalem’s Bikur Holim hospital.

Police put the death toll at four and other reports said seven had died.

Militant Palestinian group Hamas has made repeated attempts to send suicide bombers into Israel in recent day.

The restaurant is located at the junction of Jaffa Road and King George Street, one of the busiest street corners in Jerusalem.

Ambulances rushed to the scene and police closed off surrounding streets, fearing more explosive devices could be in the area.

Palestinian militants have carried out dozens of bomb attacks against Israeli targets throughout the 10 months of Mideast fighting.

More than 550 Palestinians and 130 Israelis have been killed in the violence.

The Israeli military has standing orders from the government to respond with force immediately to attacks on civilians.