| 2003 French Hill suicide bombings | |
| Partof: | the Second Intifada militancy campaign |
| Map: | |
| Location: | French Hill settlement, East Jerusalem |
| Date: | 18 May 2003 5:45 am |
| Type: | Suicide bombings |
| Fatalities: | 7 Israeli civilians (+ 1 bomber) |
| Injuries: | 20 Israeli civilians |
| Perps: | Hamas claimed responsibility |
A twin suicide bombing of an Egged bus occurred in the French Hill settlement of northern East Jerusalem on 18 May 2003. Seven passengers were killed in the attack, and 20 injured. A few minutes after the first attack, a second suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to the village of Dahiya el-Barid, near Jerusalem. Only the bomber was killed in what appeared to be a premature detonation.
The first attack took place at 5:45 am, during the morning rush hour, when a Palestinian suicide bomber disguised as a Haredi detonated a nail-studded explosive belt strapped to his body on a No. 6 passenger bus near the French Hill settlement of northern East Jerusalem. Seven civilians were killed in the attack, including four Russian immigrants and an Arab resident of Jerusalem. In addition, 20 were injured in the attack, four of them seriously.[1] [2] [3] [4]
A few minutes after the first attack, another suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to the village of Dahiya el-Barid, near Jerusalem. Only the bomber was killed in what appeared to be a premature detonation.[1] [2]
Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, relatives of 19-year-old Hamas activist Bassem Jamil Tarkrouri, who originated from Hebron, officially identified him as the perpetrator of the attack.