Israelis targeted by bomber
Source: Agencies |
July 20, 2012, Friday
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A LANKY, long-haired man wearing a baseball cap and plaid shorts with a fake Michigan driver's license carried out a deadly suicide attack on a bus full of Israeli vacationers, Bulgarian officials said yesterday.
Israel stuck by its claim that the attack was carried out by Iranian-backed Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite Muslim guerrilla group, and threatened retaliation. Seven people - five Israelis, the Bulgarian driver and the bomber - died in Wednesday's blast.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack. But Israel has attributed a series of attacks on its citizens around the world in recent months to Iran and its Shiite proxies, threatening to escalate a shadow war between the two arch-enemies.
The attack occurred shortly after the Israelis boarded a bus outside the airport in the Black Sea resort town of Burgas, a popular destination for Israeli tourists - particularly for high school graduates before they are drafted into military service - about 400 kilometers east of the capital, Sofia.
Bulgarian television aired security camera footage yesterday showing the suspected bomber wandering in and out of the terminal shortly before the blast. He was dressed as a tourist himself, wearing a T-shirt and sneakers with short white socks. He carried a large backpack with wheels.
Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said the bomber was believed to have been about 36 years old and had been in the country between four and seven days.
"We cannot exclude the possibility that he had logistical support on Bulgarian territory," the minister said. He declined to elaborate.
Officials were using DNA samples to try to establish his identity.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov told reporters that a Michigan driver's license was retrieved, but he said US officials reported that "there was no such person in their database." Michigan is home to one of the largest Arab communities in the United States.
The Israelis had just arrived on a charter flight from Tel Aviv carrying 154 people, including eight children. Some of them told Israeli television they were boarding the bus in the airport parking lot for a ride to their hotel when the blast occurred.
Israel's military said a military plane carrying 33 Israelis injured in the bombing arrived in Israel yesterday. At least two critically injured Israelis were sent to Sofia for treatment.
A Bulgarian government plane will fly home 100 other Israelis who were not wounded but who want to cut short their holiday.
Israel blamed Iran and its Hezbollah proxies for the attack, saying they are waging a campaign against Israeli targets everywhere. Hezbollah used suicide attackers against Israeli troops during the occupation of Lebanon but does not have a history of suicide strikes abroad.
"All signs point to Iran," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "This is an Iranian terror attack that is spreading across the world. Israel will react forcefully to Iran's terror."
Iran's state TV called the claims "ridiculous" and "sensational."
In Washington, the Obama administration condemned the blast "in the strongest possible terms." White House press secretary Jay Carney said the US "commitment to Israel's security remains unshakeable."
Israel stuck by its claim that the attack was carried out by Iranian-backed Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite Muslim guerrilla group, and threatened retaliation. Seven people - five Israelis, the Bulgarian driver and the bomber - died in Wednesday's blast.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack. But Israel has attributed a series of attacks on its citizens around the world in recent months to Iran and its Shiite proxies, threatening to escalate a shadow war between the two arch-enemies.
The attack occurred shortly after the Israelis boarded a bus outside the airport in the Black Sea resort town of Burgas, a popular destination for Israeli tourists - particularly for high school graduates before they are drafted into military service - about 400 kilometers east of the capital, Sofia.
Bulgarian television aired security camera footage yesterday showing the suspected bomber wandering in and out of the terminal shortly before the blast. He was dressed as a tourist himself, wearing a T-shirt and sneakers with short white socks. He carried a large backpack with wheels.
Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said the bomber was believed to have been about 36 years old and had been in the country between four and seven days.
"We cannot exclude the possibility that he had logistical support on Bulgarian territory," the minister said. He declined to elaborate.
Officials were using DNA samples to try to establish his identity.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov told reporters that a Michigan driver's license was retrieved, but he said US officials reported that "there was no such person in their database." Michigan is home to one of the largest Arab communities in the United States.
The Israelis had just arrived on a charter flight from Tel Aviv carrying 154 people, including eight children. Some of them told Israeli television they were boarding the bus in the airport parking lot for a ride to their hotel when the blast occurred.
Israel's military said a military plane carrying 33 Israelis injured in the bombing arrived in Israel yesterday. At least two critically injured Israelis were sent to Sofia for treatment.
A Bulgarian government plane will fly home 100 other Israelis who were not wounded but who want to cut short their holiday.
Israel blamed Iran and its Hezbollah proxies for the attack, saying they are waging a campaign against Israeli targets everywhere. Hezbollah used suicide attackers against Israeli troops during the occupation of Lebanon but does not have a history of suicide strikes abroad.
"All signs point to Iran," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "This is an Iranian terror attack that is spreading across the world. Israel will react forcefully to Iran's terror."
Iran's state TV called the claims "ridiculous" and "sensational."
In Washington, the Obama administration condemned the blast "in the strongest possible terms." White House press secretary Jay Carney said the US "commitment to Israel's security remains unshakeable."
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