Hamas admit bus bombing

Hamas, the Islamic militant group, said it carried out the suicide bombing on a bus in Israel today.

Up to 10 people have been killed while a further 14 were injured in the bus blast, near the northern Israeli city of Haifa this morning.

This is the fourth suicide bombing since Israel began Operation Defensive Shield against Palestinian militias 13 days ago.

‘‘To Sharon and his ministers and generals, we have shown that there is no Defensive Shield,’’ the Hamas group said.

Ismail Abu Shanab, a Hamas leader in Gaza, said the bombing was a ‘‘reaction to the ongoing brutal crimes committed by Sharon and all the criminals against our people, and it is a clear message that our people will not surrender and will not give up.’’