Suicide bombing claims life 7 years on

Steve Averbach succumbs to injuries from 2003 J'lem attack.

By GREG TEPPER
Steve Averbach, known by his friends as Steve 'Guns,' was buried Monday afternoon after succumbing to wounds suffered in a 2003 Palestinian suicide bombing. Averbach, 44, died in his sleep on Thursday.
The morning bombing was carried out on a Line 6 accordion-stretch-bus at French Hill, in Jerusalem. The bomber was dressed as a religious Jew and donned a kippa and talit. While seven people were initially killed in the blast, friends say Averbach may have saved many passengers who survived the attack.
Phillip Kaiser, who flew in from the US with his wife Miranda to attend the funeral, said that Averbach and a police officer identified the bomber and took action.
"He was found in the bus with his weapon in his hand and told those who found him to be careful as the safety was off. They think he was responsible for the terrorist blowing himself up prematurely, that the terrorist's objective was to wait for more people and then detonate in the middle of the bus, but that because Steve stood up and took action the terrorist blew himself up earlier then planned." Averbach made aliyah by himself while in his teens and served in the Golani brigade. He later worked for he Defense Ministry and the Israel Police before became a shooting instructor at Krav in Talpiot, Jerusalem
The bombing left Averbach paralyzed from the neck down and in need of constant care. He had been in and out of the hospital over the years since the attack. He is survived by his four sons and wife, Julie.


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