[BREAKING UPDATES POSTED BELOW] 11:05AM EST: At least one Kassam rocket has landed in a northern Ashkelon shopping mall. According to preliminary reports, at least 3-5 people are injured, in moderate-to-serious condition. There are reports of other less serious injuries as well. First responders are also reporting significant property damage.

Magen David Adom has declared a mass casualty incident, sending many ambulances to the scene.

In the meantime, YWN is receiving a yet unconfirmed report that at least one rocket has landed in another area in Ashkelon. There are no injuries being reported at this time.

UPDATE 11:16AM EST: Police are now reporting the Wednesday afternoon rocket attack in Ashkelon must have been a Grad rocket, a 122mm rocket capable of traveling the distance and doing the damage to the multi-level structure.

The rocket slammed into the Chutzot Shopping Mall, and according to preliminary reports, there are at least five injured, with three listed in moderate-to-serious condition. A small girl has been transported to Barzilai Hospital and a chopper is standing by if there is a need to airlift victims to an authorized trauma center.

The scene is one of panic as shoppers are attempting to flee the area. MDA is operating on the area along with Hatzolah and other emergency medical volunteers as well as police and other agencies.

MDA Commander Eli Bein reports there was a direct hit to the shopping mall, with eyewitnesses stating the third floor of the structure was hit, resulting in a partial collapse of portions of the structure. It appears two people may be trapped under rubble although this is unconfirmed at this time.

UPDATE 11:25AM EST: Police are confirming that a rocket has slammed into a wall of the Chutzot Shopping Mall in northern Ashkelon close to 6PM Israel time, resulting in a partial collapse of the structure.

Rescuers are working to extricate two victims pinned under the rubble. A chopper is standing by in the event there is a need to transport victims to an authorized trauma center.

At present, victims from the attack scene have been transported to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. A small girl was among the first evacuated from the scene. MDA is reporting three victims listed in serious condition, three moderate and the remainder light, with tens requiring treatment for shock and hysteria.

One witness, Ben Cohen, described the event, stating a large rocket struck the medical clinic on the top floor of the mall. Ben, who works in a pizza shop in the mall, on a lower floor, stated he is certain the rocket struck the medical clinic, stating at least one of the victims is an infant or very small child.

UPDATE 11:35AM EST: Barzilai Hospital spokeswomen Leah Malul reports that a mother sustained serious injuries and her daughter, an infant, is in moderate condition. There is at least one other victim listed in serious condition, a number of others moderate, and the remainder light. Other sources have informed YWN that as many as 9 victims are in moderate condition.

Some of the victims are being treated in the hospital’s trauma room, being prepared for surgery.

Dozens of people are beginning to make their way to the hospital seeking information on their loved ones.

According to another eyewitness, it was a true miracle, explaining the rocket struck the wall of the top floor but it did not really enter the building but it entered the roof and struck the medical clinic, but it did not slam into the mall itself, which was quite full with shoppers.

Witnesses stated there was no early-warning alert sounded.

UPDATE 11:45AM EST: According to Ashkelon Acting Mayor Levi Shafran, the top floor of the Chutzot Shopping Mall in Ashkelon was struck by a rocket, resulting in significant damage to the building.

“I did not hear that the Red Alert warning system was sounded,” stated Shafran, who stated that now, perhaps someone in the government will awaken since there are serious injuries in Ashkelon as a result of the ongoing terror attacks emanating from Gaza.

Military commanders are already conferring following this latest attack. It will be difficult for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to continue preventing the IDF from launching a stepped-up ground forces operation in Gaza, even with the reality that US President George W. Bush and international leaders visiting Israel.

The rocket that slammed into the shopping center traveled about 15 kilometers (9 miles), stating with certainty that it is a more powerful Grad rocket and not a Kassam.

IDF Homefront Command officials are looking into the claims that the Red Alert system did not work, with many eyewitnesses stating nothing sounded ahead of the powerful explosion caused by the impact of the 122mm Grad Rocket as it slammed into the roof of the building, landing in a third story HMO health clinic.

The latest update from Barzilai Hospital stated three victims are in serious condition, two moderate and some 18 light and being treated for hysteria.

One must remember that in such a case, a multi-casualty incident, numbers change frequently as a result of confusion and the fact that many victims are ‘walking wounded,’ making their way to the hospital by private vehicle. In addition, as time passes, more and more people realize the need for care, usually for hysteria or light physical injuries.

UPDATE 11:50AM EST: According to Barzilai Hospital’s Dr. Ron Lobry, two victims of the rocket attack in the Chutzot Shopping Mall are listed in serious condition with one already in emergency surgery. The two sustained shrapnel injuries to the face and abdomen.

There are 8-9 victims listed in light-to-moderate condition and 15-16 victims with light physical injuries and/or being treated for hysteria.

MDA spokesman Zaki Heller reports some 30 emergency vehicles were dispatched to the scene after receiving multiple calls for a rocket attack in the shopping mall. MDA treated 30 victims, with most treated for light physical injuries and/or hysteria. At this time, they continue searching the building to make certain no one remains inside. All of the victims were transported to Barzilai Hospital.

Police have secured the mall area, closing it off, with emergency officials evaluating the scene. Engineers will be brought in to inspect the integrity of the wall that was damaged, fearing it may collapse.

UPDATE 11:53AM EST: According to military authorities, the Red Alert warning system did not fail, explaining that a number of weeks ago the decision was made to disconnect the city from the system, deciding the risk of false alarms outweighed the need for the alarm system to continue operating on automatic mode as it does in Sderot and the surrounding area.

UPDATE 1:13PM EST: According to Dr. Emile Chai, the deputy director of Ashkelon’s Barzilai Hospital, 67 victims of the Wednesday evening rocket attack in the Chutzot Shopping Center.

Three victims are in serious condition, two light, and the remainder being treated for light physical injuries and/or hysteria and shock. There are still ‘walking wounded’ arriving in the hospital’s emergency room.

Anyone seeking information regarding a friend or loved one should call 12-55-171, the hospital’s emergency information number.

UPDATE 1:30PM EST: The number of injured in the Wednesday evening rocket attack into the Chutzot Shopping Mall in Ashkelon has climbed to 78.

There are now four victims listed in serious condition, and two of the victims are being flown by helicopter to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, a more advanced hospital, better capable of treating the extensive injuries of the victims.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel News Desk)