Jerusalem: In the fifth bombing incident in two days, a suicide bomber attacked a shopping mall in the Northern town of Afula on May 19, killing herself and at least four others and injuring 31, eight of them seriously even as the Jewish state sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip and increased pressure on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

In the latest attack on May 19 evening, the woman bomber detonated her explosive belt, after a security guard prevented her entry into the shopping centre, killing herself and four people, Israel Army Radio reported.

Emergency workers quoted by the Israeli daily 'Haaretz' said 31 people were Also injured in the blast in Emakim mall which occurred at 19:44 hours (IST).

Police sealed off the medium-sized town of Afula, which lies about 10 kilometres North of the Northern West Bank city of Jenin, immediately following the attack.

Reports said the hardline Palestinian group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the Afula attack.

In an earlier attack on May 19 morning, a suicide bomber on a bicycle slightly injured three Israeli soldiers when he detonated his explosives near the Kfar Darom settlement in Gaza, official sources said. Izedine al Qassam, the military wing of the Islamic militant group Hamas, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Following a special Cabinet meeting urgently convened by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on May 18 to discuss a wave of suicide bombings, Israel imposed complete closure on the territories and forbade Palestinians from travelling between cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

PTI