At least 16 passengers were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus in Israeli port city of Haifa Sunday noon, and some 60 others sustained woundsin the blast, Israel Radio quoted police sources as saying.
According to TV picture, the bus was completely destroyed with the roof totally lifted by the powerful explosion. A second bus traveling behind the first was also destroyed in the blast.
The vehicles were traveling on the Giborim Bridge in the Hadar district when the blast occurred.
Police sources said a suicide bomber was sitting in the back of the first bus as it traveled from Neveh Sha'anan. He blew himself up as the bus drove over the bridge.
The wounded were brought to Haifa's Rambam Hospital for treatment.
Some eyewitnesses say they heard two explosions, the second blast coming moments after the first explosion.
The area is closed off as police search for another bomb thoughtto be hidden in the vicinity.
The Haifa Municipality and local hospitals have issued emergencytelephone numbers for those wishing to find out more about the wounded in the attack.
( December 3, 2001)
