- RAMAT HASHARON -- A bus security
system involving explosives sensors and a remote-controlled turnstile designed
to thwart suicide bombers is being rushed into service in Israel amid a
heightened terrorist threat.
-
- Suicide attacks have claimed the lives of 139 passengers
in 13 attacks on Israeli buses since the second Palestinian intifada began
in September 2000.
-
- The new system would probably have prevented the attack
on the No 19 bus in Jerusalem a fortnight ago in which 11 people died.
The bomber jumped through an exit door that in future will be fitted with
a gate that would stop anyone entering.
-
- The terrorist group Islamic Jihad said yesterday it would
seek a "terrible revenge" for Palestinian fighters killed in
the Gaza Strip this week.
-
- "The enemy must brace itself for our fighters' response
that will be as severe as the massacre they have committed," said
Abdallah al-Shami, one of its political leaders. Hamas made similar statements
on Wednesday.
-
- Four buses fitted with the new system will be part of
a three-week trial starting this month. Once any problems have been sorted
out, the process of installing it in all buses could begin in April.
-
- Passengers will be faced with a turnstile that will emerge
through the door of the vehicle when it arrives at a bus stop.
-
- Only when a sensor has established that the passenger
is not carrying explosives and the driver is satisfied that there is nothing
suspicious will a red light turn to green and the turnstile be unlocked.
-
- A one-way gate will be fitted to the exit door and armour-plated
glass put up behind the driver to contain the blast should a suicide bomber
blow him or herself up in the turnstile.
-
- "There is a Talmud proverb that the one who saves
one life saves the whole of the nation of Israel," said Arie Mizrachi,
chairman of Israel Military Industries, which developed the system.
-
- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004.
-
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/13/
wmid113.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/02/13/ixworld.html
|