Ling Chang Mai

Apr 12, 2002 - Ling Chang Mai, 34, a foreign worker from China, was killed by a woman suicide bomber who detonated a powerful charge at a bus stop on Jaffa road next to the entrance to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda open-air market. Another 104 people were injured in the blast, among them nine Arabs. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ling Chang Mai came to Israel four months ago from Putian in Fujian Province in southeastern China. Mai worked as a builder for the Aronson Company which constructs buildings in Jerusalem. Monthly, he would send money back to his family in China.

Mai lived in an apartment in the Pisgat Zeev neighborhood of Jerusalem with other workers from China. He and his friends were accustomed to shopping in Mahane Yehuda on Friday afternoons, to take advantage of the low pre-Sabbath prices.

The family heard about the attack on the news in China but were unaware that Mai was involved until friends in Israel phoned them.

"We had no idea that it was dangerous in Israel," said Mai's brother. "My brother went to Israel just to work and earn money. What will we do now?"

Ling Chang Mai was flown back to China for burial. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters, 19 and 7, his parents and siblings.