Netanya bombing scene shortly after attack
Photo: Reuters
CIA agents visit Netanya bombing scene
Americans hoping to draw lessons that would help troops in Iraq
Two CIA investigators accompanied by local police sappers arrived at the suicide bombing scene outside Hasharon Mall in Netanya Wednesday in order to draw lessons that could prove helpful for American troops in Iraq, Israel’s leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday.
The U.S. investigators photographed the area and were briefed by sappers, who provided them with information about the explosive device used in the attack.
The Americans also noticed a photograph of security guard Haim Amram, killed after stopping the terrorist, and sought explanations about the photo’s presence at the scene. The investigators noted that at U.S. crime scenes it is common practice to post the photographs of suspects rather than the victims.
Following the tour, the two American investigators were taken to police central district headquarters and presented with further findings gathered at the blast scene.
Notably, Wednesday’s tour was not the first such visit by U.S. agents. Police officials said the CIA has recently shown growing interest in terror attacks in Israel and is closely following the damage caused by such attacks in an effort to minimize the damage caused by future attacks.
The conclusions drawn by the Americans, police officials said, are later used by American forces operating in Iraq.
