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Sheffield Club bombing

On 7 May 2002, a Palestinian suicide bomber detonated an explosive device inside the crowded Sheffield Club in Rishon LeZion, Israel, killing 15 civilians and injuring 55. Hamas claimed responsibility, and a woman who helped deliver the bomber to the site was later convicted and imprisoned before being released in a 2011 prisoner exchange.

SOLVED2002

Sheffield Club, Rishon LeZion, Israel

3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On the night of Tuesday, 7 May 2002, at approximately 11:03 pm, a suicide bombing occurred at the Sheffield Club, a crowded game club in the new industrial area of Rishon LeZion, Israel, located about 10 km south of Tel Aviv. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonated a hidden explosive device within the club, killing 15 civilians and injuring 55 people, 10 of them critically.

Following the attack, Israeli police stated that the bomber had been carrying a briefcase packed with explosives while also wearing an explosive belt. Police estimated the combined weight of the explosives at between 7 and 8 kilograms. Investigators said the briefcase also contained metal fragments and bolts, which they said were intended to maximize the number of casualties.

The Islamic militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The attack was condemned by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In the aftermath, Irina Polishchuk, a Ukrainian national married to Palestinian-Arab Ibrahim Sarahne, was apprehended and convicted for her role in the bombing, specifically for helping deliver the bomber to the site of the attack. She was originally sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment.

On 18 October 2011, Polishchuk was released to the West Bank as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, an agreement in which Israel released a large number of Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
2002
Location
Sheffield Club, Rishon LeZion, Israel
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2002-05-07

    A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device inside the Sheffield Club in Rishon LeZion, Israel, killing 15 people and injuring 55.

  2. 2011-10-18

    Irina Polishchuk, convicted for her role in delivering the bomber to the site, was released to the West Bank as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.

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People

  • Irina Polishchuk

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of participating in the 2002 Rishon LeZion bombing for her role in delivering the suicide bomber to the site of the attack; originally sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.

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

Places

Sheffield Club, Rishon LeZion, Israel

31.9929, 34.7675

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On 7 May 2002, a Palestinian suicide bomber detonated an explosive device inside the crowded Sheffield Club in Rishon LeZion, Israel, killing 15 civilians and injuring 55. Hamas claimed responsibility, and a woman who helped deliver the bomber to the site was later convicted and imprisoned before being released in a 2011 prisoner exchange.
Where did the bombing happen?
Sheffield Club, Rishon LeZion, Israel.
Who was convicted?
Irina Polishchuk (Convicted of participating in the 2002 Rishon LeZion bombing for her role in delivering the suicide bomber to the site of the attack; originally sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, released in 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Israel

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICSheffield Club bombingWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — BBC NewsBBC News · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSSuicide bomber kills 15 in IsraelThe Guardian · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026

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