Suicide bomber kills 20 in Jerusalem

A suicide bomber blew up a bus packed with Jews returning from the Western Wall tonight, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 100 in one of the deadliest bombings in the past three years of fighting.

The militant Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility, in a call to the Lebanese TV station Al Manar.

The bombing threatened to derail the US-backed “road map” peace plan. In a first move, Israel froze talks initially set for tonight on the handover of four West Bank towns to Palestinian control.

Islamic Jihad has said it would avenge the killing of a senior operative by Israeli troops last week. Hamas said it was not involved.

The blast went off shortly after 9pm (7pm Irish time) as the crowded tandem bus drove along a main route through Jerusalem and another bus pulled in front of it, witnesses said.

“It was the No 2 bus that came from the Western Wall,” said a motorist, Jacob Bitnovsky. “It was a double bus. I heard a huge blast and when I turned around I saw parts of the bus flying everywhere. I got out of the car and ran. There was a lot of smoke and running, saw a child on the ground gasping for air.”

The bus had started out at the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest shrine, and was headed to an ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighbourhood, making it likely that many of the passengers were religious Jews.

Jerusalem Police chief Mickey Levy said the blast was apparently set off by a suicide bomber.

A second bus that was nearby when the explosion went off was also badly damaged, with windows blown out. Rescuers had to use blow torches to get out some of the wounded.

“What is clear is that it was a very big bomb,” said Jerusalem fire chief Amnon Amir.

Shocked survivors, including several crying children with blood-smeared faces, were led away from the scene. A paramedic cradled a little girl in his arms, and two others led away an older woman.

Paramedics treated wounded on the roadside, and body parts were strewn across the pavement.

Levy said that more than 15 people were killed, and Israel Army Radio and rescue service workers put the number of dead at 20. Israeli officials do not include the bomber in the death toll.

Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat condemned the bombing.

The explosion went off as Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was meeting with Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip to persuade them to halt attacks on Israelis.

Palestinian militants had declared a unilateral three-month truce on June 29, but have said they would continue taking revenge for Israeli killings of their operatives.

Hamas said it was not involved. “We are committed to the truce. I don’t know who carried out this action,” said Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader.