Untitled Document
German newspaper: Explosive material used by British terrorist who
blew himself up on Tel Aviv beachfront in 2003 very likely the same as that
used by terrorists who staged London attacks last week, Mossad tells Brits
TEL AVIV – The terror attack in London last week may be tied to a suicide
bombing on Tel Aviv’s beachfront in April 2003, German newspaper Bild
am Sonntag reported Monday.
According to the paper, Mossad
officials informed British security authorities that the explosive material
used in the Tel Aviv attack on Mike’s Place pub was apparently also utilized
to stage the series of bombings in London on Thursday.
Moreover, the Mossad office in London received advance notice about the attacks,
but only six minutes before the first blast, the paper reports. As a result, it
was impossible to take any action to prevent the blasts.
“They reached us too late for us to do something about it,” a Mossad
source is quoted as saying.
‘Very powerful explosive’
According to the German report, the Mossad relayed an analysis of the explosives
used in the Mike’s Place attack to British security officials. Mossad
sources are quoted as saying there is “high likelihood” the explosives
used in Tel Aviv were the same ones used in London.
However, the story makes it unclear whether the Mossad is involved in any way
in the investigation into the London bombings.
After analyzing the explosive material used in the Mike’s Place attack,
the Mossad concluded it was produced in China and later smuggled into Britain,
the paper reports. The explosives were apparently stashed by terrorists connected
to al-Qaeda who were able to evade raids by British security forces.
According to the newspaper, Mossad Chief Meir Dagan said the explosive in question
is very powerful, and “much more lethal than plastic explosives and can
be smuggled undetected due to its composition.
The Mossad was also able to determine the substance was developed and produced
at the Chinese ZDF arms factory, located about 65 kilometers (about 40 miles)
from Beijing, the paper reports.
3 people murdered at Mike’s Place
The Mike’s Place attack claimed the lives of three people, Yanai Weiss,
46, Ran Baron, 24, and Caroline Dominique Hess, 29. The bombing was carried
out by two terrorists, Asif Mohammed Hanif and Omar Khan Sharif, who were recruited
by Hamas in Britain.
The two managed to enter Israel using their British passports.
Hanif blew himself up at the pub, but Sharif failed to detonate his explosive
belt and fled the scene. A few weeks later, his body was washed ashore in Tel
Aviv.
The terrorists’ relatives were detained in Britain in the wake of the attack
on suspicion they knew of the plot and did nothing to prevent the attacks. The
relatives’ trial ended in July of last year, with the court ordering a retrial
for Sharif’s sister and brother.
Meanwhile, Sharif’s wife was cleared of the charges against her.