Palestinians bomb UN club in Gaza
Armed Palestinians bombed the United Nations club in Gaza City early today, throwing two explosive devices.
Officials said five armed men tied up the guard at the building before throwing the explosives. The guard, who was hit with a weapon and injured, was taken to a Gaza hospital for treatment.
The building was damaged by the blasts. Plaster from the ceiling littered the floor of the seaside building.
The UN club is known as the only place in Gaza City where alcohol is served, but it was closed when the attack took place at around 2am (midnight Irish time). Only foreigners are allowed inside.
One of the explosives damaged the bar of the seaside building and broke many of the drink bottles.
A flag from the UN refugee agency UNRWA flies over the building. A UN security official said the club had operated for 15 years, but this was the first time such an incident had happened.
Islamic fundamentalists object to the sale and drinking of alcohol, but it was not immediately known who the attackers were.
Gaza has been hit by an increasing wave of lawlessness in recent months, with armed gangs storming government buildings and election offices as well as kidnapping foreigners and shooting at each other in the streets.
