TEL AVIV Ñ Israeli intelligence believe Al Qaida is responsible for two nearly simultaneous terrorist attacks on Israelis in Kenya today.
At least 12 people Ñ up to three of them Israeli nationals Ñ were
killed and 80 injured in one attack in the Kenyan resort town of
Mombasa. In another strike, anti-aircraft missiles were fired toward an
Israeli charter jet, Middle East Newsline reported.
Within minutes of the missile attack, a car burst through the gate of a
hotel in Mombasa frequented by Israelis. Officials said suicide attackers in
car blew themselves up in the lobby of the Paradise Hotel, an Israeli-owned
resort.
Mombasa has a majority of Muslims, who comprise 10 percent of Kenya's
population. Arab television stations reported that two suicide attackers Ñ
an Egyptian and Kenyan Ñ carried out the hotel attack, which took place at
7 a.m. Thursday Israeli time [midnight EST].
"The two incidents [SA-7 firing and car blast] took place virtually
simultaneously," Israeli Foreign
Ministry spokesman Ron Pros-Or said.
Al Qaida is believed to have carried out both strikes. So far, there has
been no credible claim of responsibility. Two people, identified as Arab
nationals, were arrested as suspects in the attacks.
"It's a very serious escalation, which could have resulted in the death
of 150 people," Israeli Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said. "We saw
serious attacks by the PLO in the Seventies. But this is an escalation in
ferocity."
Officials said at least 12 people, including three Israelis, were
killed. Most of casualties were Kenyan employees of the hotel. About 150
Israelis were said to have been in the lobby.
The Israeli passenger jet came under anti-aircraft missile fire
soon after takeoff from Mombasa to Nairobi on Thursday. Officials said at
least three Soviet-origin SA-7 Strella missiles from a
shoulder-fired launcher missed the Arkia flight and the Boeing 757 aircraft
continued toward Israel. They said 261 people were aboard the flight.
Officials said passengers aboard the Israeli flight were not injured.
The plane skipped a scheduled stopover in Nairobi and landed in Israel
several hours later.
"This was a prospect that had been taken into account for years," an
Israeli official said.
Israeli officials said flights to and from Israel were not disrupted.
They said intelligence information had warned that Al Qaida and its aligned
groups were planning a major attack against Israel that would resemble the
bombing of a nightclub in Bali last month. Earlier this month, Al Qaida
leader Osama Bin Laden warned of new attacks against Israeli and U.S.
targets.
Israel's military plans to send four C-130 transport planes to evacuate
the
injured from the Mombasa blast. The aircraft would also carry medicine and
medical equipment in a flight scheduled for Thursday.