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Thursday, September 02, 2004

PA recently released Beersheba bomber


Ahmed Kawasmeh, one of the two suicide bombers who carried out Tuesday's attacks in Beersheba, was released recently from a Palestinian Authority prison,
The Jerusalem Post has learned.

Sources in Hebron said Kawasmeh, 22, was arrested several months ago by the PA security forces in the city on charges of membership in Hamas and planning attacks against Israel.

They said Kawasmeh was held for several weeks before he was released. It's not clear why he was released or if he had been questioned about his plan to carry out a suicide attack.

A PA security source said he was not surprised when he learned that Qawassmeh was one of the suicide bombers. 'He was well-known as an enthusiastic member of Hamas and he apparently talked to friends about his desire to kill Jews,' he said."