Last update - 18:00 21/10/2002

By Jalal Bana and Haim Shadmi, Ha'aretz Correspondents, Ha'aretz Service and Agencies

Eight people were killed and over 40 injured when a car bomb blew up next to an Egged bus at 4:23 P.M. Monday not far from the coastal city of Hadera. One person was in critical condition, five were seriously injured and six sustained moderate wounds.

The military wing of Islamic Jihad, Al Quds Brigades, claimed responsibility for the blast, which took place at the Karkur Junction, near the town of Pardes Hannah.

"As far as we know at this time, a car moved alongside the bus and exploded," police spokesman Haim Bolimovski told Israel television.

"There are many wounded and several dead," regional police chief Moshe Waldman told Israel's Channel Two television.

The injured were taken to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera and Haemek Hospital in Afula.

The bus caught fire in the explosion, which prevented police and rescue workers from approaching the vehicle immediately. Firefighters later extinguished the blaze.

"I was 60 meters from the bus station... and I heard an explosion. The bus was completely shattered. I saw the bus go up in flames. It was completely wrecked," a witness told Israel Radio.

"I was driving in front of the bus and heard a blast and it all went up in flames," a witness who gave his name as Avi told the radio. "Drivers were terrified but continued driving."

Hadera is located about half-way between Tel Aviv and Haifa.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2002