A suicide bomber blew up a bus packed with Jews returning from the WesternWall tonight, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 100 in one ofthe deadliest bombings in the past three years of fighting. The militant Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility, in a call to theLebanese TV station Al Manar.
The bombing threatened to derail the US-backed "road map" peace plan. In afirst move, Israel froze talks initially set for tonight on the handover of fourWest Bank towns to Palestinian control.
Islamic Jihad has said it would avenge the killing of a senior operative byIsraeli troops last week. Hamas said it was not involved.
The blast went off shortly after 9 p.m. (local time) as the crowded tandem bus drovealong 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 one witness."It was a double bus. I heard a huge blast and when I turnedaround 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 forair."
The bus had started out at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest shrine, and washeaded to an ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighbourhood, making it likely that many ofthe passengers were religious Jews.
Jerusalem Police chief said the blast was apparently set off by asuicide bomber.
A second bus that was nearby when the explosion went off was also badlydamaged, with windows blown out. Rescuers had to use blow torches to get outsome of the wounded.
"What is clear is that it was a very big bomb," said Jerusalem fire chief said.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, andtwo others led away an older woman.
Paramedics treated wounded on the roadside, and body parts were strewn acrossthe pavement.
Police said that more than 15 people were killed, and Israel Army Radio andrescue service workers put the number of dead at 20. Israeli officials do notinclude the bomber in the death toll.
Palestinian legislator Mr Saeb Erekat condemned the bombing.The explosion went off as Palestinian Prime Minister Mr Mahmoud Abbas was meetingwith Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip to persuade them to halt attacks onIsraelis.
Palestinian militants had declared a unilateral three-month truce on June 29th,but have said they would continue taking revenge for Israeli killings of theiroperatives.
Hamas said it was not involved. "We are committed to the truce. I don't knowwho carried out this action," said Mr Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader.
AP