Deadly blast in Gaza

by Amy Judd | February 15, 2008 at 01:20 pm

243 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Officials are still unclear as to how many people have been killed or wounded in a blast that occured earlier today in the house of a senior Islamic Jihad activist in Gaza. It is unclear even as to whether Fayed is among the number dead. Check back for updates.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A blast went off in the house of a senior Islamic Jihad activist Friday, killing at least four people and wounding 40, medics and Hamas police said.

Islamic Jihad said Israel targeted the house of Ayman Atallah Fayed in an airstrike, but Hamas police said the cause of the blast was not clear. Israel routinely targets top militants in airstrikes, but the Israeli military had no immediate comment.

Fayed is a senior member of the Islamic Jihad military wing, and it was not clear whether he was among the dead.

The blast went off Friday evening in Fayed's house in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. The explosion badly damaged Fayed's home and a nearby metal workshop.

Health Ministry official Moawiya Hassanain said at least three men and a woman were killed. He said 40 people were wounded, including nine who were in critical condition.