Terrorist Bombs Explode in Jerusalem Building Injuring 4; Rocket Shells Hit Jerusalem Saturday, but

Terrorist bombs exploded in a West Jerusalem apartment building early this morning injuring three adults and an 18-month-old child. Yaacov Beja, 37, who was on his way to work when the bombs exploded in the building’s stairwell at 7 a.m. local time, suffered severe burns. Geula Zartzi, 28, was treated for leaser burns and Simons Musayoff, 28, and her baby daughter Gall were released from Shaare Zedek Hospital later today after treatment for minor injuries. Three flats in the building were damaged.

The latest terrorist assault came a little more than 24 hours after terrorists fired two Katyusha rocket shells into West Jerusalem early. Saturday. At about 4 a.m. local time, one shell burst in the vicinity of the Hebrew University shattering windows in a nearby apartment building and uprooting a telephone cable. No injuries were reported.

Second later, a second Katyusha rocket whistled over the city but apparently landed in an open field. Police were unable to find the spent shell. Police believe that at least one of the rockets had been aimed at the Knesset building.

(In Damascus today, a terrorist group called the Popular Struggle Front claimed responsibility for the apartment house bombs.)

Police rounded up scores of Arabs seen in the vicinity of the building at the time of the explosion but most were released after questioning. The bombs consisting of several cannisters of explosives, were planted in the building shortly before 7 a.m. An unidentified person carrying cans was reportedly seen entering the building at about that time.

Terrorists have planted bombs in Jerusalem apartment buildings several times in recent months but in each instance the lethal devices were discovered and dismantled before they exploded. The bombs planted today were apparently timed to detonate within minutes after they were placed in the building.