Suicide bombing death toll rises to 13

The death toll in the suicide bombing in Jerusalem has risen to 13 - including six children.

About 70 are believed to have been wounded.

At least 10 of the injured were said to be in critical condition.

The head of rescue services said six children were among the 13 dead.

The militant group Islamic Jihad - Holy War - claimed responsibility.

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 break 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.

A second device - a pipe bomb filled with nails - had been placed outside the restaurant but did not detonate, reports said.

‘‘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.’’

Jerusalem’s Mayor Ehud Olmert said ‘‘We are in a war, and in a war there are regrettably cases where you cannot prevent losses.

‘‘We will act together with the Government of Israel to reach every one of those who is responsible for terror, to hit them and kill them.’’

In the street outside the restaurant, some young Israelis chanted, ‘‘Death to Arabs,’’ and wore T-shirts that read, ‘‘No Arabs -- no attacks.’’

A statement issued by Islamic Jihad in Beirut claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, saying it was carried out by Hussein Omar Abu Naaseh, 23.

It said that the bombing was ‘‘a part of our response to the cowardly assassinations’’ that Israel is carrying out against Palestinians and that ‘‘more (suicide bombers) are on their way.’’

Militant Palestinian group Hamas and Islamic Jihad has made repeated attempts to send suicide bombers into Israel in recent days.

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.

‘‘The working assumption from initial findings on the scene is that it was a suicide bomber,’’ said Ilan Franco, the deputy police commander in Jerusalem. He said the bomb was packed with nails, intended to make it more deadly.

Israeli security forces had been warning in recent days that they were expecting Palestinian militants to attempt a major attack, possibly in Jerusalem.