At least 8 Yeshiva Students killed, dozens injured, in Palestinian shooting attack at Yeshivat Merkaz Harav in Kiryat Moshe, Jerusalem

March 6, 2008, 11:20 PM (GMT+02:00) Of the many injured students, five are in critical or serious condition. A Palestinian gunman armed with a Kalashnikov gun and a bomb vest stormed the Yeshiva library Thursday night, March 6, and opened automatic fire in all directions at the scores of seminarists studying there. After several minutes, he was shot dead by a neighboring army officer. He has been identified as resident of the south Jerusalem suburb of Jebal Maqaber, bearer of an Israeli identity card. The Lebanese Hizballah’s TV station interrupted broadcasts to name the perpetrators of the attack as the “Imad Mughniyeh Liberators of Galilee.” Hamas came close to claiming responsibility for the terror attack, by issuing the following statement: “We bless the (Jerusalem) operation. It will not be the last.” In Gaza City, residents went out into the streets and fired rifles in celebration in the air and distributed sweets in the streets after hearing the “good news” of the attack. President Bush issued the following statement: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack in Jerusalem that targeted innocent students at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva. This barbaric and vicious attack on innocent civilians deserves the condemnation of every nation. I have just spoken with Prime Minister Olmert to extend my deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and to the people of Israel. I told him the United States stands firmly with Israel in the face of this terrible attack.” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday condemned the attack calling it an “act of terror and depravity.” One of the injured Bochrim in serious condition’s name for Tehillim is Yehonasan ben Avital.