Here's the latest update...June 2, 2001 00:20 (Israel time)
17 killed, more than 80 injured in suicide bomb attack at popular Tel Aviv nightspot
Updated: 04:46
Amit BenAroya and Tamar Traubman, Ha'aretz Correspondents and Ha'aretz Service
Seventeen people were killed and more than 80 injured - most of them teenagers - in a suicide bomb attack close to midnight Friday at a popular nightclub near the Tel Aviv Dolphinarium. Nineteen people were said to be in serious condition.
According to eye-witness accounts, the bomber mingled with a big group of young people waiting to enter the Infinity nightclub and then blew himself up. "There was a huge blast and then I saw people flying through the air," said one eyewitness, who was in a nearby nightclub.
The Islamic Jihad organization claimed responsibility for the attack in an announcement broadcast on Abu Dhabi Television.
Police closed off the area for fear there might be other bombs in the vicinity. Channel One television reported that some 30 ambulances had arrived at the scene of the attack to evacuate the injured.
Many of the injured were teenage immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Police said that the damage caused by the bomber had been particularly devastating because the explosive device contained bolts and pieces of metal.
Forty of the injured were taken to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, eight of them in serious condition. A further 19 of the injured were evacuated to Wolfson Hospital in Holon, three of them in serious condition. The injured were also admitted to Tel Hashomer Hospital and Beilinson Hospital.
The Dolphinarium, which is no longer functional, is part of a beachside boardwalk area with many restaurants, nightclubs and coffee shops, which are typically crowded on Friday night. The police issued an order for all nightclubs and entertainment areas in Tel Aviv to be closed for the night.
Talking from the scene of the attack, Police Commissioner Shlomo Aharonishki said that, "We have to continue to operate on the ground in an effort to cut down the number of attacks as much as possible. Even though we have succeeded many times (in preventing attacks), this time it is very bad. The terrorists want to strike in every possible place, to break our morale."
Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai, who also arrived at the scene of the attack, said, "This just proves that the whole country is the frontline."
This is the fifth bomb attack in a major city in the last week. Noone was killed in the four previous attacks - two in Jerusalem, one in Hadera and one in Netanya.