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Photo: Judea and Samaria rescue services
Blast near roadblock (Archive photo)
Photo: Judea and Samaria rescue services

Suicide blast kills IDF officer

Major attack foiled: Palestinian en route to attack in Israel detonates himself at roadblock set up by troops following intelligence tip; huge blast leaves four Palestinian dead, wounds another three soldiers

West Bank bombing: First lieutenant Uri Binamo, 21, was killed and three other soldiers were wounded Thursday morning after a suicide bomber struck at an army roadblock near a West Bank village in the Tul Karem region.

 

Four Palestinians were also killed in the incident, including the bomber. Security authorities estimate the explosive device, which was particularly powerful, was designed to be used for an attack in Israel during Chanukah.

 

The troops who stopped the terrorist at the roadblock "prevented a serious attack on Israel's home-front with their bodies," Ephraim Brigade commander Aharon Haliva told Ynet later.

 

"We're trying to allow Palestinians not involved in terror to continue on with their lives, but this cannot be done as long as terror groups continue with their activity," he said. "We're greatly disappointed with Palestinian security organizations, which are not doing anything."

 


Cab following blast (Photo: Judea and Samaria rescue services)

 

The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, after a Palestinian cab approached a roadblock set up earlier by IDF troops deployed in the area following an intelligence tip.

 

The terrorist disembarked from the cab and spoke to one of the officers on the scene, who asked him to undo his jacked, prompting a giant explosion – the result of a 15-kilograms (33 pounds) explosive belt. The officer was killed instantly, as were the bomber and three other Palestinians. Army officials are looking into the identity of other passengers in the taxi and are estimating that one of them was tasked with leading the bomber to his destination.

 

One of the injured Israelis sustained serious wounds and was taken to hospital by helicopter. The two other Israeli bombing victims were lightly hurt and were also taken to hospital for treatment.

 

10 specific terror warnings

 

Security authorities deployed soldiers to perform spot checks after intelligence information indicated terrorists were planning to carry out an attack within the Green Line. Defense officials told Ynet a "highly specific" terror warning allowed troops to foil the planned attack. Currently, security forces are contending with 10 specific terror warnings and 49 general terror alerts.

 

Meanwhile, Palestinian security officials estimated the Islamic Jihad was behind the latest attack.

 

IDF forces were scouring the area in search of the terror cell behind the attack and imposed a closure on Tul Karem, Kalkiliya, and area villages.

 

Notably, for several weeks now, IDF forces have been operating against West Bank terrorists planning to carry out attacks in the northern West Bank and inside Israel.

 

Thursday's attack comes at a time where tensions have been building up at several fronts. Overnight, the IDF bombarded northern Gaza Strip targets in an effort to keep rocket launching cells away from the newly established buffer zone in the area.

 

Earlier, tensions flared on the northern border, with terrorists firing rockets at northern Israeli towns.

 

Ali Waked and Meital Yasur Beit-Or contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.29.05, 09:57
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