18 July 2012

7 reported killed in terror attack against Israelis in Bulgaria

The initial report:

Several Israelis were killed and wounded on Wednesday in a terror attack on a tour bus in the Burgus airport in Bulgaria, local media reported. An Israeli who witnessed the event said that one of the buses that carried Israelis across terminals in the airport blew up and went up in flames.
6:54 P.M.: Death count reaches seven, according to Bulgarian television.
7:13 P.M.: Burgus Mayor Dimitar Nikolov says explosives were placed in the trunk of the bus.
Ynet reports differently:
According to media reports, a suicide bomber boarded one of three buses shuttling Israeli tourist across the terminal at around 5:30 pm and then detonated an explosive vest. Bulgarian media said 44 people were on the vehicle at the time of the explosion.
Speculations about the perpetrators of the attack have already started in the media, with Iran and its trusted arm, Hezbollah, being mentioned as prime suspects. However this should be mentioned:
Security sources said that there was no intelligence indicating that Israelis traveling in the area may fall prey to terror attacks.
Update: according to Maariv (Hebrew):
A female suicide bomber who stood at the terminal, approached the buses with Israeli tourists and blew herself up.
And a timely reminder from Fox/AP:
The attack comes on the anniversary of a 1994 attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that killed 85 people. Just this morning, relatives of the victims implored the Argentine government to pressure Iran to turn over seven suspects accused in that attack.
Update:
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov arrived at the site of the attack and called Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in order to report to him that explosives placed in the trunk of the tourists’ bus were the cause of the explosion. Mladenov told Lieberman that six people were killed in the attack while another died of in the hospital. Two other individuals were in critical condition in the emergency room. 30 others were being treated at the city’s hospital.
Update. More confusing reports:
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said Thursday that the terror attack at the Sarafovo Airport terminal was likely the work of a suicide bomber, and not an explosive device planted on the bus, as previously assumed. Seven people were killed, six of them Israelis, and 34 others were wounded in the blast.
More on the suicide bomber version:
Bulgaria's Interior Minister Tsvetanov told reporters on Thursday that the suicide bomber who carried out a terror attack against Israeli tourists in Burgas on Wednesday "looked like everybody else - a normal person with Bermuda shorts and a backpack," he said.

An investigation suggests that the terrorist was waiting near the bus for over an hour.

Update: a video clip of the alleged suicide bomber was posted:



And meanwhile politicos compete in colorful threats:

Benjamin Netanyahu:
"All signs point to Iran," he said. "Only in the last few months we’ve seen Iran trying to target Israelis in Thailand, India, Georgia, Kenya, Cyprus and other destinations."..."This is a globally expanding Iranian terrorist attack. Israel will retaliate."
Ehud Barak:
Our defense forces will act to track down the perpetrators and masterminds behind this act of terrorism.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai
Today is a sad day in which the terrorists' hand triumphed, but it is doomed to be cut off.
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch
said Thursday that Israel will "settle the score" with those responsible for the terror attack on Israelis in Bulgaria. He too pointed the finger at Iran.
Etc.

18 comments:

man said...

Hey STG I haven't been in for a long time. I'm noticing the interwebs is going a bit crazier than usual with antisemetic sentiments. It seems curious to me how fearful people around the world have become of the "evil" Jews... I've not yet converted so I won't make all the jokes I probably would otherwise, but I'm curious if you have any take on what might Actually happen as a result of this nonsense. Many posters are freaking out over Netanyahu "blaming" Iran. I have no idea what the truth of it is with the way the media plays things lately.

KatieNorcross said...

Horrible, horrible. Why can't these cowards do the honorable thing and attack soldiers?

Is there any truth to the rumor that the Barbarians in Gaza and the PA occupied Judea and Samaria are celebrating?

David All said...

Snoopy, my condolences to the family and friends of those murdered in this evil terrorist attack and to Israelis and Jews everywhere.
Katiie, it would not surprise me, if the Palestinians were celebrating.

Dick Stanley said...

Going to have to learn to be mindful of these anniversaries, wherever you are. Oh, and don't take the bus on those days. Not that you (STG) have any love for buses, even at home.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

The only reasonable answer is "let's wait". It could be Iran but it also could be any one of the legion of small Al Qaeda affiliates or Palestinian factions. Who knows?

Good to hear from you, anyway.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Honorable? People who blow up civilian buses don't have anything to do with honor - usually.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Thanks David. Hope you are doing well after the loss.
All the best.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

I don't know - being mindful of things like this means giving in to the terrorists. I've never modified my plans according to their wishes. Not planning to.

Pisa said...

3'rd time trying to post, hope more luck now that I'm logged in.

Snoopy, you forgot the 3,2,1...countdown. There are some insane comments from very deranged people on Maan News and CNN.

Terror attack still ignored at +972 Magazine. They just lost the last tiny shred of credibility.

Excellent article at Ottomans and Zionists - restores some hope that this wretched human species is just a little bit less wretched:
http://ottomansandzionists.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/this-post-is-not-about-israeli-politics/

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Yeah, I have seen some of the responses. Deranged people we have in abundance, true...

Dick Stanley said...

Re the purported video of the bomber. A long-haired white guy, eh? Or a woman, maybe? Very casual for someone about to kill him/herself.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Long haired definitely. This is why at the beginning a woman was mentioned. And yes, quite cool. Good preparation.

David All said...

You are welcome Snoopy.
As for my family and myself, it is a matter of going through each day as normal as possible and try to adjust to my Dad no longer being around, a bit more each day.

Dick Stanley said...

A soldier, apparently, if the Guantanamo detainee detail is accurate. Wait and see.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Yes, I know what you mean.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

That's what is left to do.

Dylan from Portugal said...

Jews are fithy animals whom destroyed our beautiful planet.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Dylan, you illiterate naughty boy you!

First of all, read this page on use of "whom". Then repeat one thousand times:

"Jews are filthy animals who destroyed our beautiful planet."

"Filthy" and not "fithy"!

"Who" and not "whom"!!!

Then come back and report. Or Jews will get you for illiteracy.

Oh, and there is no need to move to Portugal. Stay where you are.