Donkey blown up
2003-01-26 16:42
Jerusalem - Suspected Palestinian militants blew up a donkey rigged with explosives on Sunday next to an Israeli commuter bus near Jerusalem, slightly damaging the bus, the army and witnesses said.
The blast, set off by remote control, occurred near an army checkpoint during the morning rush hour on a tunnel road connecting West Bank Jewish settlements to Jerusalem.
The donkey carcass lay in flames following the explosion. It was unclear how the donkey came to be on the road, situated near a Palestinian village.
Militants have used rigged donkeys in the past to target army outposts and checkpoints.
"Soldiers identified a donkey approaching their checkpoint in a suspicious manner. A few moments later the donkey blew up," an army spokesperson said.
Security sources had said Israel expected Palestinian suicide bombers to try harder to carry out attacks ahead of Israeli general elections scheduled for Tuesday.
- Reuters