Sonol gas station bombing

Sonol gas station bombing
Part of the Second Intifada militancy campaign
The attack site
Location	Ariel, West Bank
Date	October 27, 2002 11:30 am
Attack type	suicide bombing
Deaths	3 soldiers (+ 1 bomber)
Injured	approximately 18 (mostly soldiers)
Perpetrators	Hamas claimed responsibility

The Sonol gas station bombing was a double suicide bombing attack which occurred on October 27, 2002 near a Sonol gas station located at the entrance to Ariel, an Israeli settlement city in the West Bank. Three people were killed in the attack and approximately 18 people were injured. All of the fatalities were IDF reservists. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack

On Sunday, October 27, 2002 around 11:30 am, a young Palestinian suicide bomber approached a gas station cafeteria at the entrance to Ariel. The gas station cafeteria was full of Israeli soldiers who were waiting for their bus.

As the suicide bomber approached the gas station, a worker at the nearby cafeteria spotted him and informed her boss that the man looked suspicious. The owner of the cafeteria Menachem Gilboa and an attendant at the gas station approached the suspect, identified him as a terrorist, wrestled him to the floor and held his arms, thus preventing him from detonating his explosive device. By doing so Gilboa noticed that the suspect was wearing an explosives belt underneath his shirt. The two screamed for help and subsequently three soldiers ran towards them to assist them subdue the terrorist.

Meanwhile, an Israeli civilian security guard named Shachar Keshet, who was at the gas station fueling his car, quickly approached the commotion, was told that it was a suicide bomber, and as a result he immediately drew out his gun and shot the terrorist twice in the head. Nevertheless, as the dead terrorist fell to the ground the explosives on his body exploded.

The three soldiers who tried to subdue the bomber were killed in the explosion. 20 people additional people were injured in the explosion, one of them seriously.

As a result of the explosion, a small fire broke out at the gas station, which was later on quickly put out by the firefighters.

The Islamist militant organization Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Fatalities

• Maj. (res.) Tamir Masad, 41, of Ben Shemen
• Lt Matan Zagron, 22, of Itamar
• Sgt-Maj Amihud Hasid, 32, of Tapuah

Israeli retaliation

A few hours after the attack Israel sent military troops into northern West Bank to the town of Jenin to capture militants associated with the attack. During the operation the Israeli military force was caught in an exchange of fire with the militia forces who refused to turn themselves in. Three members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades were killed during the exchange of fire. Two Israeli soldiers were injured in the incident.

Official reactions

Involved parties

Israel:

• David Baker, an official spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who spoke about the incident stated that "Once again, the vicious agenda of Palestinian terrorists has taken its toll".

Palestinian territories:

• Palestinian National Authority – PNA officials condemned the attack and stated that its security forces are unable to act against Palestinian militant groups because Israeli troops have taken over most cities in the West Bank.

External links

• Bomb Kills 3 Israeli Soldiers Near Settlement; Blast Follows Confrontation With Attacker – published on the Washington Post on October 28, 2002
• Suicide bomber kills 3; Troops kill 2 – published on the Chicago Tribune on October 28, 2002