Misplaced Pages

2012 Burgas bus bombing: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:17, 19 July 2012 view sourceSomedifferentstuff (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users18,472 edits Undid revision 503171948 by Somedifferentstuff (talk)← Previous edit Revision as of 20:34, 19 July 2012 view source Jethro B (talk | contribs)Rollbackers9,518 edits →Reactions - added Ahmadinejad's reaction: (edited with ProveIt)Next edit →
Line 57: Line 57:
* {{flag|European Union}} - The European Union condemned the attack, and ], ] and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, stated that she is shocked by the news and called on the perpetrators to be brought to justice.<ref name="EUAshton">{{cite web | url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=141428 | title=EU too slams deadly attack on Israelis in Bulgaria | publisher=Novinite | date=July 18, 2012 | accessdate=July 18, 2012}}</ref> * {{flag|European Union}} - The European Union condemned the attack, and ], ] and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, stated that she is shocked by the news and called on the perpetrators to be brought to justice.<ref name="EUAshton">{{cite web | url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=141428 | title=EU too slams deadly attack on Israelis in Bulgaria | publisher=Novinite | date=July 18, 2012 | accessdate=July 18, 2012}}</ref>
** ] president ] stated that "Those that carried out this barbaric terrorist attack must be brought to justice".<ref name="EP_Schulz">{{cite web | http://epfacebook.eu/xt | title=Schulz on deadly attack at Burgas airport Bulgaria | publisher=European Parliament | date=July 19, 2012 | accessdate= July 19, 2012}} </ref> ** ] president ] stated that "Those that carried out this barbaric terrorist attack must be brought to justice".<ref name="EP_Schulz">{{cite web | http://epfacebook.eu/xt | title=Schulz on deadly attack at Burgas airport Bulgaria | publisher=European Parliament | date=July 19, 2012 | accessdate= July 19, 2012}} </ref>
* {{flag|Iran}} - Iran condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack and denied responsibility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4257782,00.html |title=Iran denies link to Burgas attack |publisher=Ynetnews.com |date=July 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/07/201271983322181964.html |title=Iran denies Israeli claims on Bulgaria attack |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=July 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-19}}</ref> * {{flag|Iran}} - Iran condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack and denied responsibility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4257782,00.html |title=Iran denies link to Burgas attack |publisher=Ynetnews.com |date=July 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/07/201271983322181964.html |title=Iran denies Israeli claims on Bulgaria attack |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=July 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-19}}</ref> In a speech delivered the following night, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the "enemies" of Iran are able to hurt them, but "in return it receives a much stronger, heavier blow" from Iran.<ref name="PressTVAhmadinejad">{{cite web | url=http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/07/19/251698/enemy-suffering-heavy-blow-from-iran/ | title=Enemy suffering heavy blow from Iranian nation: Ahmadinejad | publisher=PressTV | date=July 19, 2012 | accessdate=July 19, 2012}}</ref><ref name="MakoAhmadinejad">{{cite web | url=http://www.mako.co.il/news-military/security/Article-9e1d7936aa0a831017.htm&sCh=3d385dd2dd5d4110&pId=565984153 | title=אחמדינג'אד: הפיגוע בבורגס - "מהלומה קשה לאויב" (Ahmadinejad: The attack in Burgas - "a serious blow to the enemy") | publisher=Mako | date=July 19, 2012 | accessdate=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
* {{flag|Israel}} - Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister ] held security consultations, and also stated that "all the signs lead to Iran", noting previous attacks or attempted attacks in various countries in recent months in which Iran was implicated.<ref name=Haaretz /> An article in the ] in relation to this stated however that "he did not offer any evidence to back up the claim".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/explosion-targets-bus-young-israeli-tourists-bulgaria-article-1.1116853 |title=Israel blames Iran for deadly attack on bus of Israeli youth visiting Bulgaria |publisher=NY Daily News |date=July 18, 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-19}}</ref> Amir Oren in an article in '']'' said "from a prime minister – as opposed to a commentator – one expects a little more proof".<ref>{{cite web|last=Oren |first=Amir |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-wants-to-turn-the-israeli-intelligence-failure-over-bulgaria-into-an-excuse-to-strike-iran.premium-1.452076 |title=Netanyahu wants to turn the Israeli intelligence failure over Bulgaria into an excuse to strike Iran |publisher=Haaretz |date=July 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-19}}</ref> Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel would "react firmly" to this "global Iranian terror onslaught", and that "18 years to the day after the horrendous attack on the Jewish Community Center in Argentina, deadly Iranian terrorism continues to strike at innocent people".<ref name="PMORemarks">{{cite press_release | url=http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/Spokesman/2012/07/spokeBulg180712.htm | title=PM Netanyahu's Remarks Following the Terror Attack in Bulgaria | publisher=The Prime Minister's Office | date=July 18, 2012 | accessdate=July 18, 2012}}</ref> * {{flag|Israel}} - Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister ] held security consultations, and also stated that "all the signs lead to Iran", noting previous attacks or attempted attacks in various countries in recent months in which Iran was implicated.<ref name=Haaretz /> An article in the ] in relation to this stated however that "he did not offer any evidence to back up the claim".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/explosion-targets-bus-young-israeli-tourists-bulgaria-article-1.1116853 |title=Israel blames Iran for deadly attack on bus of Israeli youth visiting Bulgaria |publisher=NY Daily News |date=July 18, 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-19}}</ref> Amir Oren in an article in '']'' said "from a prime minister – as opposed to a commentator – one expects a little more proof".<ref>{{cite web|last=Oren |first=Amir |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-wants-to-turn-the-israeli-intelligence-failure-over-bulgaria-into-an-excuse-to-strike-iran.premium-1.452076 |title=Netanyahu wants to turn the Israeli intelligence failure over Bulgaria into an excuse to strike Iran |publisher=Haaretz |date=July 19, 2012 |accessdate=2012-07-19}}</ref> Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel would "react firmly" to this "global Iranian terror onslaught", and that "18 years to the day after the horrendous attack on the Jewish Community Center in Argentina, deadly Iranian terrorism continues to strike at innocent people".<ref name="PMORemarks">{{cite press_release | url=http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/Spokesman/2012/07/spokeBulg180712.htm | title=PM Netanyahu's Remarks Following the Terror Attack in Bulgaria | publisher=The Prime Minister's Office | date=July 18, 2012 | accessdate=July 18, 2012}}</ref>
** ] ] vowed that they would find the perpetrators of the attack, and said that it's important that terrorism does not disrupt the daily lives of Israelis. ** ] ] vowed that they would find the perpetrators of the attack, and said that it's important that terrorism does not disrupt the daily lives of Israelis.

Revision as of 20:34, 19 July 2012

Graphic of a globe with a red analog clockThis article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (July 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
2012 Burgas bus attack
Location of the attack (near Burgas Airport)
Burgas Airport is in eastern BulgariaBurgas Airport is in eastern BulgariaBurgas AirportBurgas Airport (Bulgaria)
LocationBurgas Airport, Burgas, Bulgaria
Coordinates42°34′N 27°30′E / 42.567°N 27.500°E / 42.567; 27.500
Date17:30, July 18, 2012 (UTC+03:00) (2012-07-18T17:30UTC+03:00)
TargetIsraeli-operated buses
Attack typeSuicide bombing
WeaponsUnknown explosive device
Deaths7 (incl. the perpetrator)
Injured32
VictimTourists and bus driver
Participant1

On 18 July 2012, a suicide bomber carried out a terrorist attack on a passenger bus transporting Israeli tourists at the Burgas Airport in Burgas, Bulgaria. The bus was carrying forty-two Israelis, mostly youths, from the airport to their hotels, after arriving on a flight of Air VIA from Tel Aviv at 16:50. The explosion killed eight people and injured thirty-two, prompting international condemnation and attention.

Attack

Seven people were killed and at least thirty-two injured in an explosion on an Israeli-operated tour bus at the Burgas Airport in the Black Sea resort of Burgas, a city of some 200,000 people and approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of the capital, Sofia. Two other buses were also damaged in the blast.

Bulgarian leaders, including President Rosen Plevneliev, rushed to the site. The Foreign Ministry said authorities believed that the blast was a terrorist attack.

According to the initial reports of Bulgarian authorities, the blast was caused by a bomb in a luggage compartment. However, later it was argued by a Bulgarian official that the blast was probably carried out by a male suicide bomber with fake US documents. Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov stated that the suspected attacker is seen on security camera tape near the bus for about an hour before the blast and that he had a fake driver's license from the U.S. state of Michigan. The suspected attacker was described as a white male with long hair and wearing glasses.

An 11-year-old child and two pregnant women were among the injured, and the Bulgarian bus driver was killed. Survivors of the attack described people being thrown into the air, people shouting and crying, and recalled seeing body parts. The witnesses said that the explosion began at the front of the bus and sent fire down through the vehicle. Some passengers on the bus jumped out of windows to escape.

Fatalities

  • Amir Menashe, 28, from Petah Tikva
  • Itzik Kolangi, 27, from Petah Tikva
  • Kochava Chriqui, 44, from Rishon LeZion
  • Maor Harush, 25, from Acre
  • Elior Preiss, 26, from Acre
  • Mustafa Kiosov, 36, Bulgarian bus driver

Reactions

  •  Bulgaria - Bulgaria's EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva was the first Bulgarian politician to react to the attack, writing on Twitter "I am shocked and saddened by the news about the explosion in Burgas in which there are casualties. I am following news the news constantly".
  •  European Union - The European Union condemned the attack, and Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, stated that she is shocked by the news and called on the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
  •  Iran - Iran condemned the bombing as a terrorist attack and denied responsibility. In a speech delivered the following night, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the "enemies" of Iran are able to hurt them, but "in return it receives a much stronger, heavier blow" from Iran.
  •  Israel - Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations, and also stated that "all the signs lead to Iran", noting previous attacks or attempted attacks in various countries in recent months in which Iran was implicated. An article in the New York Daily News in relation to this stated however that "he did not offer any evidence to back up the claim". Amir Oren in an article in Ha'aretz said "from a prime minister – as opposed to a commentator – one expects a little more proof". Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel would "react firmly" to this "global Iranian terror onslaught", and that "18 years to the day after the horrendous attack on the Jewish Community Center in Argentina, deadly Iranian terrorism continues to strike at innocent people".
    • Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak vowed that they would find the perpetrators of the attack, and said that it's important that terrorism does not disrupt the daily lives of Israelis.
    • Israeli President Shimon Peres said that Israel would hit terror nests in the world and will "silence terror organizations."
    • Amos Harel, a leading media expert on military and defense issues in Israel, wrote in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz that General Qassem Suleimani, the head of the Al-Quds Brigades of the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards, was behind the terrorist attack. According to Harel, the attack was carried out with the help of the Revolutionary Guards, the Ministry of Intelligence and Hezbollah.
  •  Lebanon - Hezbollah denied responsibility in carrying out the attack. In a speech given to his supporters to mark the sixth anniversary of the Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah did not mention the attack.
  •  United Kingdom - U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the attack, stating "I condemn today’s terrorist attack on a bus carrying Israeli tourists at Burgas airport in Bulgaria... I would like to express my condolences to the friends and family of those injured and killed."
  •  United Nations - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack in "the strongest possible terms" and expressed his condolences to the victims, their families, and the governments and people of Bulgaria and Israel.
  •  United States - The President of the United States Barack Obama condemned the attack, stating that "These attacks against innocent civilians, including children, are completely outrageous". He sent his condolences to the families of those killed and injured, the people of Israel, Bulgaria, and "and any other nation whose citizens were harmed in this awful event".
    • President Obama later called Prime Minister Netanyahu and expressed his condolences, and said that the U.S. and Israel should work together to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to President Obama for the call.
    • Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that she was "deeply saddened and angered", and offered her condolences to the victims and their families.
    • Susan Rice, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, wrote on Twitter that the attack was "an act of supreme cowardice".

Aftermath

After the attack, the Burgas airport was closed and flights were redirected to the airport of Varna. Israel's airline El Al canceled its flight from Tel Aviv to Sofia that was due to leave at 16:00 GMT.

Mayor Yordanka Fandakova of the capital city Sofia ordered a stronger police presence at all public places linked to the Jewish community, which numbers about 5,000.

Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance, and blood bank service, sent delegations to Bulgaria to help treat the wounded. The first delegation arrived on the night of the attack. The next morning, two Israel Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft landed in Burgas in order to airlift the Israelis injured in Wednesday's terror attack back to Israel.

Noah Gal-Gendler, a former Israeli ambassador to Bulgaria, said that relations between Israel and Bulgaria are extremely good at present, and the attack won't change this. Gal-Gendler said that the Bulgarian authorities are horrified and in shock.

See also

References

  1. ^ Kulish, Nicholas (19 July 2012). "Suicide Attacker With Fake U.S. ID Blamed in Bus Bomb". New York Times. Retrieved 19 July 2012. Cite error: The named reference "fakeUSID" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. "משרד החוץ: מניין ההרוגים ירד לשבעה, בהם 6 ישראלים" (in Hebrew). Ynet!. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  3. "Blasted Israeli tourists in Bulgaria mostly youth". Novinite. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  4. "Israeli tourists in Bulgaria attacked with grenades, Hezbollah TV says". Novinite. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  5. Krasimirov, Angel (19 July 2012). "Bulgaria Bus Blast: Suicide Bomber Killed 8 On Vehicle Transporting Israeli Tourists (VIDEO, PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  6. ^ Michal Shmulovich; Ilan Ben Zion (18 July 2012). "7 dead, 3 critical after attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  7. Tsolova, Tsvetelia (18 July 2012). "Israel blames Iran for Bulgaria bus bomb that kills six". Reuters. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  8. "Israelis killed in Bulgaria bus terror attack, minister says". CNN. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  9. ^ Barak Ravid; Zohar Blumenkrantz (18 July 2012). "7 reported killed in terror attack against Israelis in Bulgaria". Haaretz. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  10. "Tourist terror: At least seven Israelis killed in Bulgaria bus bomb attack (PHOTOS, VIDEO)". Russia Today. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  11. Katz, Yaakov, and Keinon, Herb, and Lappin, Yaakov (18 July 2012). "7 dead in bombing of Israeli bus in Burgas". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 July 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. Bulgaria says Israelis killed by suicide attacker by Veselin Toshkov Associated Press July 19, 2012
  13. Toshkov, Veselin, and Heller, Aron (18 July 2012). "Bulgaria Bus Blast: 6 Dead, Dozens Wounded As Explosion Hits Bus Carrying Young Israeli Tourists". The Huffington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 18 July 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. "Bulgaria blast: 'Suicide bomber' killed Israelis". BBC. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  15. "Bulgaria official: Suspected suicide bomber in tourist attack carried Michigan license". NBC News. AP. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  16. ^ Somfalvi, Attila (18 July 2012). "7 killed in terror attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria". Yedioth Ahronot. Retrieved 18 July 2012. Cite error: The named reference "YNetAttack" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  17. Lappin, Yaakov (18 July 2012). "Bus bomb survivor: 'There were bodies all around'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  18. ^ http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4258033,00.html
  19. ^ http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/90/2551392
  20. "Bulgarian EU Commissioner 'shocked' by Burgas terrorist attack on Israeli tourists". Novinite. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  21. Shelo, Tel (19 July 2012). "פיגוע בבולגריה: לפחות 7 נהרגו בפיצוץ באוטובוס ישראלי בבורגס (Attack in Bulgaria: At least 7 were killed in an attack in an Israeli bus in Burgas". Walla. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  22. "Burgas suicide bomber identified by media as Guantanamo jihadist". Russia Today. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  23. "EU too slams deadly attack on Israelis in Bulgaria". Novinite. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  24. "Schulz on deadly attack at Burgas airport Bulgaria". European Parliament. 19 July 2012. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Text "http://epfacebook.eu/xt" ignored (help)
  25. "Iran denies link to Burgas attack". Ynetnews.com. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  26. "Iran denies Israeli claims on Bulgaria attack". Al Jazeera English. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  27. "Enemy suffering heavy blow from Iranian nation: Ahmadinejad". PressTV. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  28. "אחמדינג'אד: הפיגוע בבורגס - "מהלומה קשה לאויב" (Ahmadinejad: The attack in Burgas - "a serious blow to the enemy")". Mako. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  29. "Israel blames Iran for deadly attack on bus of Israeli youth visiting Bulgaria". NY Daily News. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  30. Oren, Amir (19 July 2012). "Netanyahu wants to turn the Israeli intelligence failure over Bulgaria into an excuse to strike Iran". Haaretz. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  31. "PM Netanyahu's Remarks Following the Terror Attack in Bulgaria" (Press release). The Prime Minister's Office. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  32. Keinon, Herb (19 July 2012). "Peres responds to Burgas blast: Israel will silence terror" (Press release). The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  33. Harel, Amos (19 July 2012). "בירושלים אין ספק: טהראן מאחורי הפיגוע בבורגס (In Jerusalem there is no doubt - Tehran is behind the explosion in Burgas". Ha'aretz. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  34. Harel, Amos (19 July 2012). "Israel has no doubt about who is behind the deadly attack in Bulgaria". Ha'aretz. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  35. Yahav, Nir (19 July 2012). "נסראללה: רודפים את ישראל כל העת, יש הפתעה בדרך (Nasrallah: We are chasing Israel all the time, there is a surprise on the path)". Walla. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  36. "UK condemns Burgas attack". The Jerusalem Post. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  37. "UN chief condemns deadly bomb attack on Israeli tourist bus in Bulgaria" (Press release). United Nations News Centre. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  38. "Statement by the President on the Terrorist Attack in Bulgaria" (Press release). The White House. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  39. "President Obama condemns 'barbaric terrorist attack' against Israeli tourists in Bulgaria". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  40. "Obama phones Netanyahu, vows to aid in probe of attack". The Jerusalem Post. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  41. Hutchinson, Bill (18 July 2012). "At least 6 Israelis dead in bus bombing in Bulgaria; Netanyahu blames Iran". NY Daily News. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  42. Nenov, Stoyan (18 July 2012). "Israel blames Iran for Bulgaria bus bomb that kills six". Reuters. Yahoo News. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  43. "First MDA delegation lands in Bulgaria to treat wounded". The Jerusalem Post. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  44. Reuven, Carmit (19 July 2012). "Israeli rescue operation in Burgas underway". Yedioth Ahronot. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  45. Ben Zion, Ilan, and Shmulovich, Michal (18 July 2012). "The death toll mounted, and Israel blamed Iran". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 19 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links


Categories: