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©Magen David Adom  Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem after suicide bombing ©2001 Reuters/STR PM Sharon visits 8-year-old Haya Schijveschuurder, wounded in the Sbarro bombing, in which five members of her family, including both parents, were killed. View video interview (895 KB)

15 people were killed, including 7 children, and about 130 were injured in a suicide bombing at the Sbarro pizzeria at the corner of King George Street and Jaffa Road in downtown Jerusalem. Concealing the explosives in a guitar case which he had carried with him into Jerusalem, the terrorist entered the restaurant just before 2 PM and detonated the bomb. The 5 kg.-10 kg. bomb, which was packed with nails, screws, and bolts to ensure maximum damage, completely gutted the restaurant, which was full of lunchtime diners.

The terrorist was killed in the blast. His controller was on the list of wanted terrorists submitted by Israel to the Palestinians Authority this week. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Selected photos of the bombing

The names of the victims:
–  Giora Balash, 60, of Brazil
–  Zvika Golombek, 26, of Carmiel
–  Shoshana Yehudit Greenbaum, 31, of the U.S.
–  Tehila Maoz, 18, of Jerusalem
–  Frieda Mendelsohn, 62, of Jerusalem
–  Michal Raziel, 16, of Jerusalem
–  Malka Roth, 15, of Jerusalem
–  Mordechai Schijveschuurder, 43, of Neria
–  Tzira Schijveschuurder, 41, of Neria
–  Ra’aya Schijveschuurder, 14, of Neria
–  Avraham Yitzhak Schijveschuurder, 4, of Neria
–  Hemda Schijveschuurder, 2, of Neria
–  Lily Shimashvili, 33, of Jerusalem
–  Tamara Shimashvili, 8, of Jerusalem
–  Yocheved Shoshan, 10, of Jerusalem

Zvika Golombek		S. Greenbaum		Tehila Maoz		Frieda Mendelsohn
Michal Raziel		Malka Roth		Lily Shimashvili		T. Shimashvili
Mordechai and Tzira Schijveschuurder				Giora Balash		Yocheved Shoshan
Ra’aya, Avraham Yitzhak, and Hemda Schijveschuurder

The Israeli response: Foreign Minister Peres (August 9): “If the Palestinian Authority had acted with the necessary determination and carried out preventive detentions of Hamas terrorists and their operators, the murders today in Jerusalem would have been prevented.”

©IDF Spokesman  Illegal Palestinian weapons seized by IDF at Governor’s House Compound in Abu Dis (Aug 10)

In response to these terrorist attacks, Jerusalem police closed down the PLO’s east Jerusalem Orient House headquarters and nine other Palestinian buildings, while the IDF has taken control of Palestinian military and political headquarters at Abu Dis just outside Jerusalem early Friday morning. The IDF also attacked the Palestinian Authority’s West Bank police headquarters in Ramallah.
IDF forces take control of Governor’s House Compound in Abu Dis – Aug 10, 2001
Israeli Measures in the Jerusalem Area in Response to Palestinian Terrorism – Legal Aspects – Aug 10, 2001
Briefing following Israeli Cabinet Meeting – Aug 10, 2001

Reactions of world leaders:

US President George Bush:
“I deplore and strongly condemn the terrorist bombing in downtown Jerusalem today. My heartfelt sympathies and those of the American people are with the victims of this terrible tragedy and their families.”
– White House press release – August 9, 2001
Pres Bush calls PM Sharon to express condolences – Aug 16, 2001

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
“UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned today’s terror attack by a suicide bomber in Jerusalem. He deplored all acts of terror and is deeply disturbed by the terrible loss of life.”
– UN Secretary-General press release – August 9, 2001

European Union
Belgian EU Presidency: “The Presidency of the European Union unreservedly condemns the bombing of a Jerusalem shopping centre today, 9 August. It abhors this cowardly act which mainly claimed the lives of innocent civilians.”
– EU press release, August 9, 2001

Terror Attack in Jerusalem: Conversation between FM Peres and Jordanian FM – Aug 9, 2001

Major terrorist attacks in Jerusalem since July 26:

In the past two weeks, there has been a Palestinian effort to concentrate terror attacks in Jerusalem, as follows:

July 26: Small arms fire on from an ambush towards an Israeli vehicle close to Givat Ze’ev. An Israeli youth was killed and his father was wounded.

July 27: A watermelon containing an explosive charge based on high explosives, standard and improvised, nails and a cellular detonating system was placed in a bus parked near the Malha shopping mall and was neutralized following a bus driver’s alertness.

July 29: Following intensive incitement regarding the Israeli intention to take over the Temple Mount, there were severe disturbances by Muslim worshippers on the Temple Mount, resulting in the injury of 15 policemen and some 20 Palestinians.

July 29: A car bomb (containing 5 gas canisters, a hand grenade and nails with an alarm clock) exploded in the car park of an apartment building in Pisgat Ze’ev in Jerusalem. Two persons were lightly injured.

July 30: A beer can containing high explosives, nails, and a digital watch was placed in the commercial center in the city center, probably by a member of Hamas from Nablus. There were no casualties.

July 31 and August 4: Small arms fire towards Gilo nieghborhood, resulting in an injured woman and 14 damaged apartments. Carried out by Fatah operatives.

August 1: Explosion of a pipe bomb in the King David Hotel car park – there were no casualties. The Hamas claimed responsibility.

©2001 Reuters/Abed Omar Qusini Re-enactment of Sbarro bombing at Al-Najah University – Sept 23

Re-enactment of the Sbarro bombing (Sept 23) Commemorating the year-old intifada against Israel, students at Al-Najah University in Nablus opened an exhibition on Sunday (Sept 23) that included a grisly re-enactment of a suicide bombing at the Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem (August 9), with body parts and pizza slices strewn around the room.