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Comments:  338
Last update - 09:53 07/03/2008
Eight killed when terrorist opens fire in library at Jerusalem yeshiva
By Jonathan Lis, Yair Ettinger and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Israel, Palestinians, yeshiva 

Eight people were killed and nine others were wounded Thursday evening when a terrorist entered a crowded library at a Jerusalem yeshiva and opened fire. The head of the Zaka emergency service described the scene after the shooting as "like a slaughterhouse."

Three of the wounded in the attack at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood were serious condition, and taken to Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Karem. The other six were lightly hurt and taken to Sha'arei Tzedek Medical Center. One of the wounded is 15 years old. Magen David Adom emergency medical service declared the incident a "multiple casualty event."

Jerusalem District police chief Aharon Franco said the terrorist entered the religious school, pulled out an automatic weapon and began firing in every direction.
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The gunman was shot twice by a student at the yeshiva who crawled out onto an adjacent roof, before being killed by an Israel Defense Forces soldier.

Witnesses described a terrifying scene during the shooting, with students jumping out the windows of the building to escape.

Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar led a prayer session at the yeshiva after the shooting. Students huddled together, and many were sobbing uncontrollably.

Security officials said the terrorist was a resident of East Jerusalem.

An organization calling itself "Galilee Freedom Battalions - the Martyrs of Imad Mughniyeh" took responsiblity for the attack, according to Hezbollah's Al-Manar television station. The veracity of the claim was not clear.

Hezbollah had vowed to avenge last month's assassination of its terror chief, Imad Mughniyeh, in Damascus. The organization blamed Israel for his death, but Israel denied any role in the killing.

A large number of security and emergency medical personnel rushed to the scene of the shooting. Some 50 ambulances were also summoned.

Police and Israel Defense Forces troops searched the complex and the surrounding area for nearly two hours in order to determine whether a second or possibly third terrorist was still holed up inside the yeshiva or had fled.

The evacuation of the dead and wounded was delayed due to the searches.

The attack drew international condemnation, including from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel said that the attack would not derail peace talks.

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      1.   Olmert Your To Blame Their Is No Peace With Hamas 21:22  |  Shepherd 06/03/08
      2.   This story better be spread across all news agencies... 21:24  |  Jordan 06/03/08
      3.   Dear G-d... 21:24  |  sandra chitayat 06/03/08
      4.   Wrong, wrong, wrong...... 21:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/03/08
      5.   OK SHAS, are you still in? 21:28  |  Teddy 06/03/08
      6.   jeruslaem attack 21:32  |  marcel 06/03/08
      7.   ymach shmom 21:34  |  sam 06/03/08
      8.   You are to blame Olmert and co. 21:34  |  Michael Taylor 06/03/08
      9.   Ignorant fundamentalist muslims 21:37  |  Avi 06/03/08
      10.   Olmert: All Will Be Sacrificed for Peace 21:38  |  Jerry 06/03/08
      11.   Israel is Crumbling - Olmert and Barak Fiddle 21:40  |  Tod Zuckerman 06/03/08
      12.   Oh, lets not over react and be hot headed - lets just forget 21:40  |  Mark 06/03/08
      13.   # 11 21:41  |  John the Priest 06/03/08
      14.   I condemn all violence. 21:41  |  Deborah 06/03/08
      15.   WANT AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF UN 21:41  |  HF 06/03/08
      16.   # 6 Swiss ....Wrong Wrong Wrong 21:42  |  Lynn 06/03/08
      17.   I understand this respond... 21:42  |  Joelle 06/03/08
      18.   What goes around comes around 21:43  |  Realistic Arab 06/03/08
      19.   Olmert is to blame 21:44  |  Lou 06/03/08
      20.   4 Jews die world news, 120 Pals die who cares? 21:44  |  Jeremy Martin 06/03/08
      21.   purgatory?? 21:45  |  mal 06/03/08
      22.   The death process must continue, according to Bush and Olmert 21:46  |  Steven 06/03/08
      23.   The death process must continue, according to Bush and Olmert 21:46  |  Steven 06/03/08
      24.   Beyond good and evil 21:47  |  CG 06/03/08
      25.   i am waiting for some rabbi to comment about... 21:47  |  DD 06/03/08
      26.   Meretz and the UN protest the extra-judicial killing 21:47  |  Binyamin Dissen 06/03/08
      27.   Olmert and Co. Will Do Nothing 21:47  |  Erik 06/03/08
      28.   B-52 21:48  |  B-52 06/03/08
      29.   I condemn this terrorist attack 21:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/03/08
      30.   Terrorist attack came through as breaking news. 21:49  |  Stephen. 06/03/08
      31.   Olmerts Fault 21:50  |  Nephtaly 06/03/08
      32.   stop your whining 21:50  |  TryTalkingForAChange 06/03/08
      33.   hamas truce now? 21:50  |  avi 06/03/08
      34.   Sick BBC 21:53  |  Earthman 06/03/08
      35.   Perhaps this tragedy will serve as a catalyst 21:54  |  Yaakov Sullivan 06/03/08
      36.   They were not "killed" they were murdered in cold blood. 21:55  |  E 06/03/08
      37.   Sam go talk to the Queen... 21:56  |  MaryRose 06/03/08
      38.   So much for allowing aid shipments 21:57  |  MaryRose 06/03/08
      39.   Olmerts failed policys When does he resign Already? 21:57  |  Kipperraes 06/03/08
      40.   deliberate attack on highschool kids 21:59  |  Ron 06/03/08
      41.   Israel killed 50 civilians last week 22:00  |  Jay 06/03/08
      42.   When this killing cycle will end, where civilian get caught 22:01  |  Simon Mohammed 06/03/08
      43.   I voted for Shas in the last election 22:02  |  Michael 06/03/08
      44.   # 25 Lynn 22:03  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/03/08
      45.   The international media reports that this attack is in revenge 22:06  |  lakshmi 06/03/08
      46.   N...wake up 22:06  |  Ed 06/03/08
      47.   Typical Palestinan Muslim target - a school 22:07  |  SystemF 06/03/08
      48.   It is Time 22:07  |  LB 06/03/08
      49.   FIGHT BACK ISRAEL!! 22:07  |  judith 06/03/08
      50.   Become differenciated! 22:12  |  Benjamin 06/03/08
      51.   no more talking 22:13  |  alan 06/03/08
      52.   Jeremy, what rock are you hiding under? 22:13  |  Ed 06/03/08
      53.   YOU APPLAUDERS ARE ALL DISGUSTING 22:14  |  PlanoStu 06/03/08
      54.   Hey Haaretz, for once you used the "T" word 22:52  |  Shloimele 06/03/08
      55.   Haaretz, why? 22:52  |  Mat 06/03/08
      56.   My sincere condolences to all the familes. What a waste of life! 23:27  |  Toronto`s Finest 06/03/08
      57.   64 Ed to Jeremy,some important points.True, the Arabs did not 23:28  |  lakshmi 06/03/08
      58.   Javid Yoy Are Right 23:28  |  TOBIA 06/03/08
      59.   #24 HF in NY--YOU ARE KIDDING, RIGHT?? 23:28  |  george 06/03/08
      60.   Terrorist attacks 23:28  |  Sani 06/03/08
      61.   If it was up to me.... 23:28  |  Tired of it all 06/03/08
      62.   Expectations, Javad? 23:29  |  Polybios 06/03/08
      63.   Rationales 23:29  |  Nosama 06/03/08
      64.   #65 ollie213 23:31  |  Moshe 06/03/08
      65.   #33, Martin, you have it backwards. Please correct 23:31  |  David 06/03/08
      66.   Sadness 23:32  |  Yosemite 06/03/08
      67.   How many more must die till Olmert is done? 23:32  |  Polybios 06/03/08
      68.   Israeli & American hypocrites 23:32  |  Peter Johnson 06/03/08
      69.   My condolences 23:33  |  KUTW 06/03/08
      70.   Hey Lakshitmi.. 23:33  |  Jordan