Bethlehem bomb scare

2005-12-23 16:13

Bethlehem - A motorist who had illegally parked his vehicle close to the entrance to Bethlehem looked on with horror as an Israeli bomb squad used a robot to blow off the car's bonnet on Friday.

The bomb disposal experts were called in after the suspicious vehicle was seemingly abandoned close to the tomb of Biblical matriarch Rachel, the military said.

Using a remote-controlled robot, the sappers then fired a series of shots in front of the car before the bonnet flew open, an AFP photographer said.

As it became clear, however, that the vehicle was not in fact booby-trapped, the apparent owner of the vehicle returned and the bomb squad stood down.

Security has been stepped up around the birthplace of Jesus Christ with thousands of Christians expected descend on the West Bank town over the weekend to celebrate Christmas.

- AFP