At least 6 dead, 25 hurt in terror attacks near Eilat
LAST UPDATED: 08/18/2011 16:33
Special police forces, IDF soldiers kill 7 terrorists involved in attacks; series of bombs go off near IDF patrol along border with Egypt, gunmen fire on bus, private car; IDF soldiers among casualties.
Security personnel next to bus after ambush, Thurs Photo: REUTERS/Lior Grundman
At least six people were reported dead and at least 25 injured in
a three-stage terrorist attack along Israel’s border with Egypt on
Thursday, which began when terrorists opened fire at an Egged bus
traveling on Road 12 near Eilat.
Several minutes later, a number of bombs went
off next to an IDF patrol traveling along the border with Egypt. There
were also reports of mortar fire from Egypt into Israel. The terrorists
apparently then moved on to another spot and fired an anti-tank missile
at another vehicle, injuring a number of passengers.
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Click here for a timeline of the attack
Egypt security sources: Bus ambush unlikely to have
come from here
Barak: IDF will hunt down perpetrators of Eilat
attack
Magen David
Adom said that terrorists attacked a bus and a private vehicle 20
kilometers north of the site of the first incident. Paramedics said five
people there were mortally wounded in that attack.
The casualties were
evacuated to Yoseftal Hospital in Eilat. A number of soldiers were among
the casualties
IDF soldier target, hit 7 terrorists involved in attacks
“This seems
like a coordinated attack,” a senior IDF officer said. There was also
speculation that there may have been more than one terror cell
coordinating the attacks.
Commander of the IDF’s Edom Division
Brig.-Gen. Tamir Yidayi arrived at the scene of the bus attack and set
up a command post to coordinate efforts to capture the perpetrators. The
IDF suspects that the terrorists infiltrated into Israel after crossing
into Egypt possible from the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday, the Egyptian Military launched a massive operation to capture terrorist cells operating in the Sinai.
Due
to concern that terrorists had infiltrated into Israel from Egypt,
security officers in Israeli communities along the border were ordered
to raise the level of alert and to tell residents to remain inside their
home.
Authorities set up an emergency telephone number for those affected by the attacks near Eilat: 1255175.
Yaakov Lappin and JPost.com staff contributed to this report