Breaking: Deadly blast hits Israeli tour bus in Bulgaria

[Lars77]

Source: BBC

An explosion has killed at least three people on a bus carrying Israeli tourists in the Bulgarian city of Burgas, Bulgarian officials say.

More than 20 people were also injured when the bus exploded at Burgas airport, by the Black Sea.

Witnesses told Israeli TV that someone boarded the bus and a huge explosion immediately followed.

Reuters news agency says Burgas airport has now been closed and flights are being diverted to Varna.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18892336

[uppityperson]

1. What the hell is wrong with people?

[Fozzledick]

2. The prime suspects are Iran and Hisballah.

They've made their agenda obscenely clear.

[permatex]

11. I would have to agree

Iran and Hezbollah have made it crystal clear that they want to destroy Israel, so my money would be on one of them, although they are, for all intents and purposes, one and the same.

[KeepItReal]

15. Why not Al Qaeda or Neo Nazis?

You have some facts the rest of us don't?

Just asking for some clarification

[Fozzledick]

19. Iran has been trying repeatedly for months, looks like they finally succeeded.

8:24 P.M.: Several internet sites in Bulgaria reports that government authorities ignored warnings and alerts by Israeli and Russian sources over a possible attack

...

7:50 P.M.: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Iran is responsible for the terror attack in Bulgaria, we will have a strong response against Iranian terror."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/7-reported-killed-in-terror-attack-against-israelis-in-bulgaria-1.452013

Three Israelis were killed and many injured when a suicide bomber blew up an Israeli tourist bus at the airport of the Bulgarian city of Burgas on Wednesday, the 18th anniversary of the Iran-sponsored attack on the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

...

Israel has been concerned Hezbollah would try to attack Israelis overseas in in connection with the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughniyeh, attributed to the Mossad.

Israel had asked Bulgaria, for example, to increase its security over Israeli tour groups in the capital city of Sofia. According to Sofia News Agency, a Hezbollah plot was earlier uncovered by local security agencies, which warned Israel.

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=277989

The flight from Tel Aviv had just come in Wednesday and a large group of Israeli tourists had been picked up by three buses at Burgas airport when one of them exploded and caught fire. At least six Israelis tourists and the Bulgarian tour guide were killed on the spot and 27 injured, four critically. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak accused Iran of the attack on the Israeli tourist bus and pledged a strong response. Israeli security would reach the perpetrators, they said.

The blast is suspected to be part of the joint Iranian-Hizballah terror campaign in the past year against Israeli targets that were thwarted in various other countries, including Thailand and Kenya, Georgia, India and Azerbaijan.

http://www.debka.com/article/22190/Seven-Israelis-killed-dozens-injured-in-bus-explosion-in-Bulgaria

[KeepItReal]

27. Waiting for facts isn't an option?

I'll hold for some on-site investigative results and not some politician's opinions and saber rattling.

State-sponsored terror can be proven. If it is Iran, I'm sure the evidence will be produced.

[permatex]

20. Al Qaeda, maybe

Neo-Nazis, could be, who knows at this point.

[MADem]

32. Bulgaria and Iran have good relations and are trading partners.

This is not to say the GoB had any involvement in this matter; but it would not be unusual for Iranians to be present in Bulgaria, owing to diplomatic and trade relationships. They wouldn't necessarily stick out much if at all.

Iran might be looking for payback owing to Israel's recent involvements in Iran which had a goal to throw monkey wrenches into Iran's nuclear ambitions.

[FarCenter]

29. Most suicide bombers are Sunni, not Shiite

Last edited Wed Jul 18, 2012, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Beiruit Marine Barracks is a notable exception, but that was an attack on a military target.

ON EDIT: This may not be a suicide bomb attack, and the fact that someone got on just before the explosion may be coincidental.

Israel: Iran behind bus bomb attack that killed seven tourists in Bulgaria

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/18/israel-iran-bomb-tourists-bulgaria

The bomb, placed in the trunk, was detonated not far from Burgas airport, said Dimitar Nikolov, the city's mayor. At least 40 people were on board when it exploded.
...

Initial reports claimed the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber, after eyewitnesses reported seeing a person board the bus before it blew up.
...

The Bulgarian interior minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, was quoted on national radio BNR as saying the police were investigating two possible causes of the blast: that an explosive device was put in the bus before the tourists boarded or that the explosives were in the tourists' luggage.

However, the attribution to the Iranians is being driven mostly by the fact that it is the anniversary of the attack on the Argentinian Jewish center. Israel has many enemies, and lots of them can read calendars.

[zellie]

6. You REALLY want an answer ?

not sure it would go over to big.

[uppityperson]

7. Sure, what is an answer?

[cali]

8. sure. got the guts to post your answer? do it, babe.

[zellie]

9. I actually dont have an answer....

just sayin this is a controversial topic.

[aquart]

3. Anyone planning to tour Bulgaria?

Doesn't seem to be a good idea.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Bulgarian TV says 7 dead; Netanyahu blames Iran

7:50 P.M.: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Iran is responsible for the terror attack in Bulgaria, we will have a strong response against Iranian terror."
...
6:56 P.M.: According to Bulgarian news, 18 Israelis have been evacuated to a local hospital. Hospital sources say they expect more to arrive.
...
6:54 P.M.: Death count reaches seven, according to Bulgarian television.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/7-reported-killed-in-terror-attack-against-israelis-in-bulgaria-1.452013

[Windy]

26. Of course he does. He wants war with Iran sooner rather than later. Scary times

Especially with Cheney in Washington yesterday.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Cause of explosion remains uknown.

"We don't know if it was a terror attack," said Paul Hirschson, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman. "We do know it was an explosion." http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/18/bulgaria-bus-explosion-three-dead

[Comrade Grumpy]

16. But we do know Iran was responsible?

[dipsydoodle]

22. Its conventional to blame what are regarded as being the usual suspects.

Some like to maintain that convention.

[DLnyc]

18. Yes, that's what I figured.

It doesn't make too much sense that it would be known so quickly what happened and who, if anyone, is responsible.

But many people don't have time for information and evidence.

So much war, so little time.

[Poll_Blind]

10. Maybe it's them shady motorcycle assassins who were killing Iranians.

PB

[cali]

12. that was beneath you.

and yeah, I know you don't care what I think.

[Poll_Blind]

13. You're right, Cali. You judge the blood of innocents differently.

And that's all on you, Madam.

PB

[cali]

17. uh, no dearie, I don't. what you're doing is classic projection.

something you sadly engage in far too often.

And that is factual.

Edited to add just for you, dear:

I have never made a snarky comment such as yours in this thread about any Palestinian or Iranian being killed. Never.

YOU with all your self-righteous cant, have- and many a time.

I think it's disgusting.

[Poll_Blind]

23. So what are you aghast about then? Or are you just generally aghast of everything?

Israeli tour bus appears to be target of terror act, Iran is the natural suspect. I post a quip reminding everyone that Iran has been a target of a number of assassinations and terror activities of which Israel is the natural suspect- and all of a sudden you deem that that comment somehow crosses the line of decency?



PB

[cali]

24. oh please. n/t

[Poll_Blind]

25. Come on, your entire commentary in this thread to me has been ambiguous and contentless.

Chose a position, explain your position or shoo!

PB

[leftynyc]

14. Thoughts and prayers for the victims (n/t)

[Mosby]

21. Today is the 18th anniversary

of the Iran-sponsored bombing of the Jewish center in Argentina.

[dipsydoodle]

28. And 9/11

was the anniversary of the CIA inspired coup in Chile 1973.

[oberliner]

30. Apparently, the bus was full of Israeli teenagers.

Witness Gal Malka told Israel's Channel 2 TV that she saw someone board the bus before it exploded. She said the bus was full of Israeli teenagers.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0718/Bus-full-of-Israeli-youth-explodes-in-Bulgaria-killing-at-least-three

[rollin74]

31. horrible