The death toll in the Jerusalem pizza restaurant bombing is believed to have risen to at least 19.

Six children are among the dead and more than 70 other people have been injured.

Many of the injured are thought to be in a critical condition.

The extremist Palestinian group Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility.

A second device - a pipe bomb filled with nails - was placed outside the restaurant but did not detonate, reports said.

Police said initial indications are a bomber detonated his explosives inside the Sbarro restaurant in the heart of the city.

The restaurant and the streets were full of people on their lunch break.

"I believe this was the retaliation of the Palestinian people for the terrorist Zionists attacks," said Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a senior Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip.

"They must understand that the blood of our people is not cheap."
ANANOVA