Suicide bomber blows himself up in Jerusalem cafe

A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded garden cafe near Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s official residence tonight, police said.

Nine were killed and at least 35 wounded, according to reports.

One of the cafe’s patrons, who gave only his first name, Eran, said ‘‘there was a huge explosion, simply atomic’’.

‘‘There was smoke everywhere and an acrid smell of gunpowder. People were screaming. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,’’ Eran said.

The Moment cafe is only about 100 yards from Sharon’s official residence in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Rehavia.

Jerusalem Police Chief Mickey Levy said the assailant walked into the cafe and detonated explosives. ‘‘This is a very, very serious attack,’’ he said.

The blast came just two hours after three Palestinian gunmen opened fire on pedestrians in the Israeli coastal town of Netanya, wounding dozens of people. The three assailants, members of the Al Aqsa Brigades militia, were killed by police.