Seven Israelis killed in terror attacks in the South

Seven Israelis were killed and 29 injured in a three stage terror attack on roads near Eilat and the Egyptian border. Israeli security officials believe some 20 terrorists wearing Egyptian uniforms participated in the attack, towards evening security forces said they had killed seven of the terrorists. Police later raised the level of alert throughout the country, and roads leading to and from Eilat were sealed off and roadblocks set up. Towards evening security forces were still scouring the area searching for terrorists. It was unclear whether some had succeeded in fleeing back into Egypt or whether they remained inside Israel. Magen David Adom said five Israeli men and two women were killed in the attacks. Details of where the fatalities occurred are still unclear. The first attack occurred at noon when terrorists sprayed an Egged bus with automatic fire as it travelled to Eilat. Seven people were injured in the attack. The terrorists fled in a car and the bus driver continued to a nearby army base and alerted troops and emergency services. Egged spokesman Ran Ratner said bus no. 392 left Beersheba at 8.05 and headed for Eilat passing by military bases en route. The shooting attack occurred approximately 18 miles from Eilat. "The passengers were mostly soldiers heading home for the weekend," Ratner said. Terrorists detonated a bomb near an IDF patrol summoned to the site where the bus was ambushed. The army admitted there was casualties but did not release further details. Shortly after, five Israelis were killed when terrorists detonated a bomb and fired an anti-tank rocket at an Israeli civilian vehicle and bus that travelled on the road near the Egyptian border not far from where the bus was ambushed. Special police and army units engaged in gun battles with the terrorists at a number of locations near where the attacks occurred. It is not clear whether some of the terrorists succeeded in fleeing back to Egypt or remain inside Israel. The government already approved construction of a security fence along the border with Egypt but until now only some 42 kilometers have been fenced in.