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Jerusalem Policemen's Actions Likely Saved Lives

Aired July 30, 2002 - 14:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A suicide bomber injured seven Israelis in central Jerusalem today. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade has claimed responsibility. Israeli police say the bomber was a 17-year- old from the West Bank.
CNN's Michael Holmes reports from Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The attack happened at lunch time in the heart of Jerusalem. The site, close to Jaffa Road, a major artery through the city, and not far from Zion Square, an area normally crowded with shoppers and pedestrians.

(on camera): Jerusalem police say they saw the 17-year-old, thought him suspicious, and challenged him. He immediately turned and walked into the first store, a fast food outlet, and detonated his explosives.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Suddenly, there was a big explosion out of nowhere, a lot of smoke, a lot of blood.

HOLMES (voice-over): Those inside the store were fortunate. The staff had gone to retrieve supplies from a storeroom when the bomb went off. They and several passersby were only slightly injured. Another person has moderate injuries. Police describe the bomb as a "medium-sized" one, and contained in a small bag. They also say their officer's actions almost certainly averted a far worse incident.

KOBI ZRIHEN, JERUSALEM POLICE SPOKESMAN: Definitely the fact that he saw the police officer prevented him of getting into a crowded place.

HOLMES: Initial reports indicate the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is responsible for the attack, the first suicide bombing in Jerusalem in six weeks. Since an Israeli warplane bombed a residential area in Gaza a week ago, killing a Hamas leader and 14 other people, including nine children, authorities in Israel had braced for revenge attacks. Security around the country has been high. There have been at least three incidents where Jewish settlers were killed by Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank, and one in which settlers in Hebron attacked Palestinians, killing a girl. But this was the first attack in Israel itself since the Gaza bombing. Militant leaders, however, say it won't be the last.

SHEIK AHMED YASSIN, HAMAS LEADER (through translator): All the options are open in front of us, and it is our right to defend ourselves with all the possibilities. They have F-16 planes and we have suicide bombers.

HOLMES: Tuesday's attack comes within days of Israel announcing its intentions to ease conditions for Palestinians, facing a serious humanitarian crisis after four months of occupation.

Michael Holmes, CNN, Jerusalem.

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