HAIFA HARBOUR -- FLUID GUSHING FROM SPLIT PIPE; BROKEN PIPES; FIRE-BOAT PLAYING WATER OVER BURNED HULK.




Initials MJS/VS/MR/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ISRAEL IS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE SHOCK OF A DARING ARAB SABOTAGE RAID WHICH DESTROYED A MAIN OIL PIPELINE IN HAIFA YESTERDAY (JUNE 24) AND FOR WHICH 2 ARAB GUERILLA ORGANISATIONS ARE ALREADY CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SABOTEURS HAD STRUCK IN THE PORT OF HAIFA, AND IT WAS THE BOLDEST ACT OF ITS KIND INSIDE ISRAEL SINCE THE 6-DAY WAR IN 1967.

POLICE SAID AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE OF ABOUT 11/2 KILOGRAMS (ABOUT 21/2 POUNDS) HAD BEEN PLACED ON A PIPE CARRYING OIL FROM HAIFA OIL REFINERY TO THE DOCKSIDE AT KISHON HARBOUR.

THE EXPLOSION STARTED A FIERCE BLAZE WITH HUGE FLAMES AND SMOKE LEAPING OVER HAIFA BAY. BURNING OIL POURED TOWARDS A BUSY INDUSTRIAL AREA, BUT WAS PUSHED BACK BY FIREMEN WITH FOAM, SAND, AND WATER. TEN HOURS AFTER THE EXPLOSION, THE STENCH OF BURNING OIL STILL HUNG OVER THE AREA.

ISRAELI POLICE DETAINED 114 PEOPLE. 169 WERE ORIGINALLY ARRESTED BUT 55 WERE RELEASED AFTER A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION. SOME ARE STILL BEING QUESTIONED. IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT CIVILIANS SAW LORRIES IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK, BUT A CHECK ON REGISTRATION NUMBERS HAS SO FAR PROVED NEGATIVE.

NORTHERN HAIFA POLICE CHIEF AHARON SELA TOLD REPORTERS THAT FOOTPRINTS LEADING TO THE PIPE, SITUATED ON SANDY GROUND, INDICATED THAT THE CHARGE HAD BEEN LAID BY ONE MAN. BUT IT WAS POSSIBLE HE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH A GROUP.