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01/05/2003
Tel Aviv suicide bomber was British citizen
The Israeli government has said that a suicide bomber who killed three people in Tel Aviv yesterday was a British citizen – the first time a UK national has been responsible for such an outrage.
The suicide bomber, identified by the Israelis as Asif Muhammad Hanif, detonated his bomb yesterday at around 1am (local time) at a pub on the popular Tel Aviv waterfront promenade. In addition to three deaths, a further 60 were injured.
Israel has also identified a second UK citizen, Omar Khan Sharif, as a second member of the bomb team who fled the scene after his device failed to explode. The second bomber struggled with bystanders before dropping his malfunctioning explosive device and fleeing the scene.
Security forces believe that the pair entered Israel from the Gaza Strip a few hours prior to the attack.
Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Tanzim-Fatah have declared joint responsibility for the attack.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he was horrified at what he described as a "totally unjustified attack".
The bombing occurred on the same day that the Palestinian authorities agreed a new prime minister and cabinet – and paving the way for negotiations on the US-backed 'Road Map' for peace.
Despite the attack, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it was not evidence of a rise in militant fundamentalism in the UK.
MCB Secretary General Iqbal Sacranie, offered a qualified condemnation of the bombing, saying: "We cannot condone the loss of any civilian life whether it be Palestinian or Israeli. However, the Palestinian tragedy of occupation and oppression has been going on for so long with no positive result."
But this form of extremism is not alien to Britons. In 2001, Richard Reid, from London, was arrested by US officials after he tried to detonate a shoe-bomb on a flight from Paris to Miami. He had since been sentenced to life imprisonment in the States.
And the controversial teacher Shiekh Abu Hamza who preached at north London's Finsbury Park mosque is currently facing a deportation order for actions contrary to Britain's "national interests".
The attack came on the day that the US government claimed that global terrorist attacks last year were down 44% on 2001.
The US recorded 199 international terrorist attacks last year, compared to 355 in 2001.
(GMcG)
The suicide bomber, identified by the Israelis as Asif Muhammad Hanif, detonated his bomb yesterday at around 1am (local time) at a pub on the popular Tel Aviv waterfront promenade. In addition to three deaths, a further 60 were injured.
Israel has also identified a second UK citizen, Omar Khan Sharif, as a second member of the bomb team who fled the scene after his device failed to explode. The second bomber struggled with bystanders before dropping his malfunctioning explosive device and fleeing the scene.
Security forces believe that the pair entered Israel from the Gaza Strip a few hours prior to the attack.
Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Tanzim-Fatah have declared joint responsibility for the attack.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he was horrified at what he described as a "totally unjustified attack".
The bombing occurred on the same day that the Palestinian authorities agreed a new prime minister and cabinet – and paving the way for negotiations on the US-backed 'Road Map' for peace.
Despite the attack, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it was not evidence of a rise in militant fundamentalism in the UK.
MCB Secretary General Iqbal Sacranie, offered a qualified condemnation of the bombing, saying: "We cannot condone the loss of any civilian life whether it be Palestinian or Israeli. However, the Palestinian tragedy of occupation and oppression has been going on for so long with no positive result."
But this form of extremism is not alien to Britons. In 2001, Richard Reid, from London, was arrested by US officials after he tried to detonate a shoe-bomb on a flight from Paris to Miami. He had since been sentenced to life imprisonment in the States.
And the controversial teacher Shiekh Abu Hamza who preached at north London's Finsbury Park mosque is currently facing a deportation order for actions contrary to Britain's "national interests".
The attack came on the day that the US government claimed that global terrorist attacks last year were down 44% on 2001.
The US recorded 199 international terrorist attacks last year, compared to 355 in 2001.
(GMcG)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
