NETANYA - A suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to a crowded shopping mall in the Israeli coastal town of Netanya yesterday, killing himself and three others and injuring 57 people.
A witness told Israel Radio that the bomber had tried to enter the Hasharon mall through a main
entrance and had blown himself up when a security guard refused to let him in. The whole mall shook.
Police closed the mall and searched for other explosive devices.
Assistant Police Commander Aharon Franco said: "A bigger tragedy was prevented because the terrorist was checked and was turned away at the entrance to the mall."
Netanya, which is near Tel Aviv, has been targeted in recent months by Islamic militants who have vowed to carry out bombings in Israel in solidarity with Palestinians.
- REUTERS
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