A Curse Of Blood: ISIS Attacks The Western Wall

In the spirit of Not Our Hour and The Selma Massacre, anyone may post an entry in this timeline.

BBC World News, July 17, 2015

5:49 PM (Jerusalem Time)
BREAKING NEWS: MASSIVE SUICIDE BOMBING AT WESTERN WALL IN JERUSALEM

6:21 PM: We can now confirm that a major terrorist attack has taken place at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. At least two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the security checkpoints, followed by at least four armed gunmen. Current casualties are 11 civilians dead (along with all attackers), with dozens of injured being rushed to Hadassah Hospital...

...unconfirmed reports indicate that a number of American and British youths were among the dead...

8:02 PM: ISIL has just released a video claiming responsibility for the attack on the Western Wall, and promising more attacks to follow...
 
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No way would they be releasing victims names within 30 minutes of the first reports of the attack. Next of kin wouldn't have been informed by then for a start.
 
No way would they be releasing victims names within 30 minutes of the first reports of the attack. Next of kin wouldn't have been informed by then for a start.

Good point. I'll edit. They might have unconfirmed reports from posts on social media, but the media would refrain from giving names. How long before they would release names?
 

James G

Gone Fishin'
Isn't it a bit out of character for ISIS to attack Israel, even Westerners in Israel? They've shown no interest in doing so before plus Israel pretty much has a handle on suicide bombers and has done so for a while now.
 
Isn't it a bit out of character for ISIS to attack Israel, even Westerners in Israel? They've shown no interest in doing so before plus Israel pretty much has a handle on suicide bombers and has done so for a while now.

Historically, yes. However, ISIS is currently at the peak of its power, controlling much of eastern Syria and northern Iraq. I don't think it's implausible that they would attack Israel at this point. It's completely idiotic - and entirely in character for an organization as fanatical as ISIS.

The Westerners weren't the real targets, but July is peak season for organized Jewish youth tours. Most of the casualties were Israelis, and all were Jewish. In this case, I have a very good idea who would have been at the Wall at that exact date in time: I was there. Lots of Orthodox Jews, lots of Jewish youths, a few groups of soldiers, Israeli Jews of all stripes, and a couple tourists.

Also, the actual attack was carried out by radicalized Jerusalem Arabs who got lucky. As I mentioned, they set off the suicide bombs at the checkpoints, which is where most of the fatalities were. The gunmen opened fire, then died themselves within seconds.
 
Jerusalem Post, July 17, 2015

8:40 PM (Jerusalem time): Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu condemns attack on Jerusalem's Western Wall. A curfew has been imposed in Jerusalem.

CNN, July 17, 2015

1:27 PM EST:
The White House has issued a statement from President Obama condemning the attack on Jerusalem. The President is currently in New York, scheduled to return to Washington tomorrow...

2:03 PM EST:
BREAKING NEWS: President Obama will be attending evening Shabbat services at Congregation Shearith Israel tonight. Shearith Israel was founded in 1654 and is the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States...
 
July 18 2015: A mosque is firebombed in Tell Aviv by an group of Israeli youth killing 4 and injuring 17. The Perpatrators are still at large and and are currently being hunted down by the Police.
 
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July 16 2015: A mosque is firebombed in Tell Aviv by an group of Israeli youth killing 4 and injuring 17. The Perpatrators are still at large and and are currently being hunted down by the Police.

That's before the bombing in Jerusalem. Might want to change it to July 18.
 
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