Arabs from Jordan territory today mined an Israeli freight train bound from Lydda to Haifa and derailed a new diesel engine and 13 cars, causing considerable damage to the train and tearing up some 500 feet of rail. There were no casualties. The train consisted of a string of 30 empty oil tanker cars.
United Nations observers called to the scene of the blast traced footprints from the scene to the outskirts of a Jordan village north of Kalkilya. The wreck occurred opposite Kalkilya. At the request of the Israeli representatives, the Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission met in an emergency session today to consider the incident.
It was reported that two hours earlier a passenger train had passed over the rails without trouble. Shortly before that Israeli police patrolling the track chased, but did not apprehend, several persons whose actions appeared suspicious. The blast was apparently caused by a small quantity of explosive attached directly to the rails and set off when the engine went over them.
Emergency repair crews were rushed to the scene and began the job of removing the wrecked cars and restoring the line to full service. Until at least tomorrow the line will be closed and all traffic will be routed over the new coastal line between Tel Aviv and Haifa.
The fortnightly supply and relief convoy for the Israeli guards at the Hebrew University buildings atop Mt. Scopus, whose access road is commanded by the Arab Legion, was not sent out today because of a warning from the UN staff which feared an incident as a result of the tension in the Jerusalem area.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
