Hotel in Jerusalem Used by Arabs Destroyed in Underground’s Attack
Sternists Demolish Building at Jaffa
100 Injured, 40 Gravely; Rain Halts Siege in Jerusalem Walled City
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By The Associated Press
JERUSALEM, Monday, Jan, 5.—The Semiramis Hotel in this city, believed to be a transit head-quarters for Arab leaders, was wrecked early today by a heavy explosion which police said had killed at least twenty Arabs and wounded twelve others. Six additional persons were believed buried in the debris.
Police said the blast was touched off by members of the Jewish underground, who yesterday were blamed for the explosion which brought death to fourteen persons and injury to 100 others at Jaffa.
The Semiramis Hotel is a three-story stone structure where, the Jews have contended, Arab leaders stayed during visits to Palestine.
Heavy gunfire was heard in the vicinity of the hotel after the explosion, indicating that Arab guards had engaged the attackers.
The scene after the blast was reminiscent of the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on the night of July 22, 1946, when nearly 100 persons, including many Britons, were killed by a bomb planted by Irgun Zvai Leumi, Jewish underground organization.