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2002 Rishon LeZion bombing

Coordinates: 31°59′30″N 34°46′11″E / 31.9918°N 34.7696°E / 31.9918; 34.7696
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2002 Rishon LeZion bombing
Part of the Second Intifada militancy campaign
The attack aftermath
2002 Rishon LeZion bombing is located in Central Israel
2002 Rishon LeZion bombing
The attack site
Native nameהפיגוע במועדון השפילד קלאב
LocationRishon Lezion, Israel
Date7 May 2002; 22 years ago (2002-05-07)
11:03 pm
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Deaths15 (+1 bomber)
Injured55
PerpetratorHamas claimed responsibility

The 2002 Rishon LeZion bombing was a suicide bombing which occurred on 7 May 2002 at a crowded game club located in the new industrial area of Rishon Lezion, Israel. 16 people were killed in the attack and 55 were injured.

The Islamic militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack

On Tuesday, 7 May 2002, at 11:03 pm, a Palestinian suicide bomber detonated a hidden explosive device within a crowded game club full of people located in the new industrial area of Rishon Lezion, only 10 km south of Tel Aviv, killing 15 civilians and injuring 55 people, 10 critically.[1][2][3][4]

After the attack the Israeli police stated that the suicide bomber was carrying a briefcase full of explosives and in addition was also wearing an explosive belt. The police estimated that the total weight of explosives were between 7 and 8 kilograms, and stated that the briefcase contained also metal fragments and bolts in order to maximize the number of casualties in the attack.[5]

The perpetrator

The Islamic militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.[1]

Aftermath

Memorial for the attack victims

The attack was condemned by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.[6]

After the attack, Irina Polishchuk, a Ukrainian married to Palestinian-Arab Ibrahim Sarahne,[7][8] was caught and convicted of participating in the 2002 Rishon LeZion bombing for her part in delivering the bomber to the site of the attack.[citation needed]

Release of attack collaborator

On 18 October 2011, Polishchuk, who had originally been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, was released to the West Bank as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "CNN.com – Attacks since start of Al Aqsa intifada – June 21, 2002". CNN. 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011. Rish
  2. ^ "BBC News | MIDDLE EAST | In pictures: Israel bomb blast". BBC News. London: BBC. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  3. ^ "The Day - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  4. ^ "BBC News - MIDDLE EAST - Israel poised to strike Gaza". 9 May 2002. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  5. ^ "All 15 Victims of Rishon Letzion Suicide Bombing Identified". Haaretz. 8 May 2002.
  6. ^ "UN News Centre". un.org. 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
  7. ^ "נענע10 - שירות הביטחון: התקשורת מתלהמת בפרשת הסייענית - חדשות". Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  8. ^ "ynet השב"כ מתנצל: טעות בזיהוי - חדשות". ynet. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  9. ^ "שרות בתי הסוהר". Retrieved 16 December 2014.

31°59′30″N 34°46′11″E / 31.9918°N 34.7696°E / 31.9918; 34.7696