Editing 2002 Mombasa attacks (section)

== Attacks ==

=== Hotel bombing ===
Three men approached the gate of the Paradise Hotel in a [[Mitsubishi Pajero]] and were questioned by security guards. One of the men exited the car and detonated his [[explosive vest]]. The other two men rammed through the barrier, crashing into the front entrance of the hotel and set off a [[Car bomb|bomb in the vehicle]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/dn2/-Terrorists-hit-Paradise-Hotel-after-elaborate-planning/957860-2067670-u34buhz/index.html|title=2002: Terrorists hit Paradise Hotel after elaborate planning|website=Daily Nation|language=en|access-date=2019-12-15}}</ref> The blast occurred on the eve of [[Hanukkah]], just after 60 Israeli visitors had checked into the hotel for a holiday stay. The explosion killed 13 people, including ten Kenyans and three Israelis, and injured 80. Nine of the victims were dancers who had been employed to welcome hotel guests. In an overnight rescue mission, four [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] operated by the [[Israeli Air Force]] were sent to Mombasa to evacuate the dead and injured.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/>

=== Aircraft attack ===
[[File:SA-7.jpg|thumb|Two ''Strela 2'' missiles were fired during take-off, but missed the plane.]]
Almost simultaneous to the attack on the hotel, two [[shoulder-fired missile|shoulder-launched]] [[Strela 2]] (SA-7) [[surface-to-air missiles]] were fired at a chartered [[Boeing 757]] owned by Israel-based [[Arkia Airlines]] as it took off from [[Moi International Airport]]. The Arkia charter company had a regular weekly service flying tourists between [[Tel Aviv]] and Mombasa. Kenyan police discovered a missile launcher and two missile casings in the Changamwe area of Mombasa about {{convert|2|km}} from the airport. The pilots planned on an emergency landing in [[Nairobi]] after seeing the two missiles streak past them, but decided to continue to Israel. The airliner landed at [[Ben Gurion Airport]] in [[Tel Aviv]] about five hours later, escorted by Israeli [[F-15]] fighter jets.<ref name="UK condemns Kenya bomb attack">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2523065.stm UK condemns Kenya bomb attack]. BBC News. 28 November 2002.</ref> Following the attack, all flights from Israel to Kenya were cancelled indefinitely.