TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up near a Jerusalem hotel, Wednesday morning, slightly injuring five people, police said.
The bomb exploded on a street connecting the Old City with West Jerusalem beside the David Citadel Hotel. It is some 100 meters from the U.S. consulate in West Jerusalem.
The explosion came four days after two suicide bombers and a car bomb exploded on a pedestrian mall killing 10 youngsters and injuring 170. Saturday's attack and a bus bombing in Haifa, Sunday, prompted the government to declare the Palestinian Authority a terror supporting entity and target some of its installations, including Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's two helicopters.
Jerusalem Police commander, Major General Mikki Levy said Wednesday's charge exploded in the middle of a street and it was not immediately clear whether it blew up prematurely.
The bomb included mails and screw to increase injuries and tore the bomber to pieces, Maj. Gen. Levy said.
Two cabinet ministers, Public Security Minister Uzi Landau and Religious Affairs Minister Asher Ohana were inside the hotel during the bombing. "The attacks failed either because of an accident or because he (the attacker) saw policemen," Minister Landau said.
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