Closing in on the Hakoah bombers

NSW Police are one step closer to tracking down the terrorists behind the 1982 bombings of the Israeli Consulate and the Hakoah Club in Sydney.

It was revealed on Network Ten’s Wanted series last week, that the fingerprints and DNA of those involved in the attacks are on file.

NSW Police Detective Inspector David Gawel of the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, said he had obtained “direct evidence of the fingerprints of those involved and DNA profiles of those that have been closely linked to the construction of the device. For us, they are significant breakthroughs.”

Gawel said further investigation into the timing device and other crime scene exhibits, has led them to “harvest DNA samples”, which will be cross-referenced with those of the suspected attackers.

The exhibits included the two LPG cylinders and drum of petrol used to construct the improvised explosive device planted in the boot of the 1970 Valiant parked at the Hakoah Club.

New South Wales police believe the gas cylinders used were taken from the NSW State Rail Authority and have undertaken interviews with its 300-400 employees for further evidence of the terrorists’ identities.

Caroline O’Hare, a counterterrorism and special tactics detective-inspector in Sydney, confirmed a suspicion the attacks were the work of local agents for Iraqi-based terrorist group May 15, headed by Abu Ibrahim.

On December 23, two people were injured when a bomb exploded in the stairwell of the Israeli Consulate in Sydney.

Four hours later a second bomb that had failed to properly detonate was planted in the boot of a vehicle in the car park of the Hakoah Club in Bondi.

The car had been purchased in Parramatta the day before the attack.

The cold case was reopened by NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police, the NSW Crime Commission and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation in August last year.

A victim of the terrorist bomb, Paul Nethery, also discussed his experience of the “massive explosion” on the program.

“I remember that I couldn’t see anything because of the dust and the smoke but I could hear things falling,” said the insurance broker working on the floor below the Israeli consulate when it was blasted.

“Then I noticed part of the ceiling had collapsed and the other portion was coming toward me.

“And it was about that time I heard some people on the other side of the floor screaming that a bomb had gone off.”

TIMNA JACKS