EXPLOSION DAMAGE; BRIGADIER ZEEVI OF CENTRAL COMMAND INSPECTING SITE; MAYOR KOLLEK AT WALL.




Initials PS/VS/PN/LAD



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Background: THREE BUNDLES OF DYNAMITE EXPLODED LAST NIGHT (FRIDAY) NEAR JERUSALEM'S WAILING WALL WHERE AN ESTIMATED 3,000 WORSHIPPERS WERE PRAYING TO MARK THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE JEWISH SABBATH.

POLICE REPORTED THAT ONE ARAB WAS KILLED AND AN ISRAELI SOLDIER WOUNDED.

BOMBS WENT OFF IN THE STREET OF CHAINS AND HAGAI STREET--TWO WINDING LANES ALONG WHICH JEWISH WORSHIPPERS TRAVEL TO THE WALL IN JERUSALEM'S OLD CITY.

SECURITY FORCES CORDONED OFF THE AREA AND ROUNDED UP AT LEAST 20 SUSPECTS. ARMOURED CARS ROARED THROUGH THE OLD CITY AND POLICE PLUNGED DOWN NARROW ALLEYS WITH TRACKER DOGS.

A POLICE SPOKESMAN FIRST REPORTED THAT SHOOTING ACCOMPANIED THE EXPLOSIONS AND THAT SIX PEOPLE WERE INJURED. BUT THE SPOKESMAN LATER ADMITTED THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE GIVEN IN ERROR IN THE INITIAL CONFUSION.

TODAY (SUNDAY) THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EXPLOSIONS.