A general view of the scene of the suicide attack at Tel Aviv's old central bus station yesterday. A Palestinian suicide bomber killed nine people and wounded 60 others in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv yesterday in an attack a spokesman for the Islamic militant group Hamas called an act of 'self-defence'. The bombing occurred at a sandwich stand in the middle of the week-long Jewish holiday of Passover. Medics put the number killed at nine, not including the bomber. -
REUTERS PHOTOS
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP):
A PALESTINIAN suicide bomber blew himself up outside a fast-food restaurant in a bustling area of Tel Aviv during the Passover holiday yesterday, killing nine other people and wounding dozens in the deadliest Palestinian attack in more than a year.
The new Palestinian government, led by Hamas, called the attack a legitimate response to Israeli "aggression." Israel said it held Hamas ultimately responsible - even though a different militant group, Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility - and would respond "as necessary."
"We shall, of course, continue to use all means at our disposal to prevent every other attempt," Israeli Prime Minister-designate Ehud Olmert said.
Israeli defense chiefs were to consult yesterday, but security officials said a possible reoccupation of Gaza, the base of the new Hamas government, was not being considered.
The White House strongly condemned the attack, calling it "a despicable act of terror for which there is no excuse or justification."
CEASE-FIRE
A security guard posted outside the restaurant, the target of a suicide bombing in January, prevented yesterday's bomber from entering the building, police said.
It was the first suicide attack in Israel since the Hamas militant group took over the Palestinian government two and a half weeks ago. Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks, has largely observed a cease-fire since February 2005.
