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King George Street bombing

A suicide bombing on King George Street in downtown Jerusalem on March 21, 2002 killed three Israeli civilians and injured dozens of shoppers; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility.

SOLVED2002

King George Street, Jerusalem

2 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On the afternoon of Thursday, March 21, 2002, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device hidden under his jacket amid a crowd of shoppers on King George Street, a major shopping thoroughfare in downtown Jerusalem, near a clothing store and toy shop. The blast killed three Israeli civilians. Sources differ slightly on the number injured: the main account states 86 people were injured, several seriously, while a separate summary within the same source cites more than 40 wounded, seven seriously.

The Palestinian militant group al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack shortly afterward. The group identified the bomber as Mohammad Hashaika, a 22-year-old from the West Bank village of Talluza near Nablus. According to the available account, Hashaika was a member of the Tanzim faction and a former Palestinian police officer. It was later reported that Hashaika had previously been arrested on suspicion of planning an earlier attack, but the Palestinian Authority released him about a week before he carried out the King George Street bombing.

The attack occurred during a period of frequent suicide bombings in Israel and the Palestinian territories, in the context of the Second Intifada. Contemporaneous news coverage from the day of the attack, including reporting from The Guardian, described the bombing occurring in Jerusalem's downtown shopping district.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
2002
Location
King George Street, Jerusalem
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2002-03-21

    A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device on King George Street in downtown Jerusalem, killing three civilians and injuring dozens of shoppers.

  2. 2002-03-21

    The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the bombing, identifying the perpetrator as Mohammad Hashaika.

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People

  • Mohammad Hashaika

    CHARGED

    Identified by the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades as the suicide bomber; reportedly a former Palestinian policeman and Tanzim member who had previously been arrested for allegedly planning an earlier attack before being released by the Palestinian Authority. Not formally tried, as he died carrying out the attack.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

King George Street, Jerusalem

31.7820, 35.2168

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
A suicide bombing on King George Street in downtown Jerusalem on March 21, 2002 killed three Israeli civilians and injured dozens of shoppers; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility.
Where did the bombing happen?
King George Street, Jerusalem.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Israel

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICKing George Street bombingWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  2. PRESSBomb rips through Jerusalem shopping centreThe Guardian · 2026-07-10

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