Four of the eight terrorists who attacked the Savoy Hotel last Wednesday were long-time veterans of El Fatah who survived the Jordanian purge of terrorist gangs in 1970, it was disclosed today by Israeli authorities investigating the identities of the killers. They were 27 and 28 years of age, in contrast to the other four, including the sole survivor, Moussa Jumma’a, who were between 18-21 and relative newcomers to El Fatah.
Only one of the gang had a high school education; the rest had schooling only at the elementary level. One member of the group held the rank of lieutenant in El Fatah, the investigation disclosed. The interrogation of Jumma’s revealed that the objectives of the sea-borne assault on Tel Aviv were the Opera House and a youth club on the beach.
The terrorists landed from their rubber boats roughly midway between the two points, but instead of making for their objectives, opened fire indiscriminately on passers-by, alerting the police. They were forced to barricade themselves in the Savoy Hotel where they took hostages and later blew up the building killing 18 persons including seven of the eight terrorists.
Persons injured in the attack were reported to be improving today at various hospitals. Karl Felmann of Holland, whose 16-year-old son was killed, was taken off the critical list today.
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