Governor Brad Henry's group not near explosion in Israel

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Gov. Brad Henry, who is in Israel as part of a business and cultural exchange program, was not near an explosion that went off at a bus stop near an army base Tuesday, killing

Tuesday, September 9th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Gov. Brad Henry, who is in Israel as part of a business and cultural exchange program, was not near an explosion that went off at a bus stop near an army base Tuesday, killing at least three people and wounding dozens.

``Governor Henry and his group were not in the same section of Tel Aviv,'' said Paul Sund, Henry's spokesman.

Henry was set to speak at the International Policy Institute for Counter Terrorism when the explosion occurred. The forum was not disrupted and Henry spoke.

The governor and his wife, Kim Henry, are among 30 Oklahomans on the trip, which is sponsored by the Oklahoma Israel Exchange, a nonprofit organization that promotes cooperation between Oklahoma and Israel.

The explosion occurred near Tsrifin army base and the Assaf Harofeh hospital near the Tel Aviv suburb of Rishon Letzion.

A spokesman for the Zaka rescue service said three people were killed; according to reports, one of them was the suicide bomber. The Magen David Adom rescue service said about 30 were injured, eight of them seriously.