8 Killed in Hit-and-Run Attack

Feb. 14 -- A bus stop in the Israeli town of Azur was a scene of bloody carnage today when a Palestinian driver plowed a bus into a group of Israeli civilians and soldiers, killing eight and injuring at least nine others in the deadliest attack in more than five months. The victims were mostly soldiers.

A dramatic 10-mile chase with Israeli security forces followed, which came to an end when the bus driver, Khalil Abu Elba, crashed into a truck, sustaining serious injuries. He was apprehended and taken to the hospital.

Israel Radio said the dead were four female soldiers, three male soldiers and a civilian woman.

In Jerusalem, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced that Palestinian-ruled areas were sealed off in response to what he described as a "serious terrorist attack." Barak said today's attack was an abominable crime and promised that anyone involved in the attack faced retaliation.

"We will make sure that whoever is responsible for this event by planning it, launching it or executing it will be brought to his real kind of penalty or punishment," he said.

But in Gaza City today, Hamas spokesman Ismael Abu Shanab said Israel could expect more such attacks in the future. "We will defend ourselves and we will protect ourselves form the Israeli attacks against our civilians," he said.

Scene of Bloody Carnage

In a statement released today, Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon said he took a "grave view" of the attack and promised to tighten security once he takes office.

Most experts believe Sharon won the Feb. 6 election with an overwhelming majority on the platform of bringing security to Israel. At the accident site, people held up signs saying it was time for Sharon to make good on that debt.

But as witnesses and onlookers gathered at the site of the deadliest attack in the region in more than five months, there was also a sense that today's incident only highlighted the need for peace. "We don't want them here," said an Israeli witness to today's tragedy. "They don't want us here. But there is no other solution. The only way is to sit and solve this problem — it's by sitting and negotiating."