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Jerusalem bombings: Teenager killed in rare twin attacks at bus stops Jerusalem bombings: Teenager killed in rare twin attacks at bus stops
(about 2 hours later)
The explosions happened at two busy areas of Jerusalem as people were heading to workThe explosions happened at two busy areas of Jerusalem as people were heading to work
A teenage boy has been killed and 14 other people have been wounded in two suspected bomb attacks at bus stops in Jerusalem, Israeli police say. A 16-year-old boy has been killed and 14 other people have been wounded in two suspected bomb attacks at bus stops in Jerusalem, Israeli police say.
The explosions happened at two busy areas on the outskirts of the city as people were heading to work.The explosions happened at two busy areas on the outskirts of the city as people were heading to work.
The boy who died was among 12 people wounded by the first blast. Three others were wounded by the second. Israeli media said the teenager who died was an Israeli-Canadian religious student named Aryeh Shtsupak.
Israel's internal security minister said at one scene that this was "an attack we haven't seen in a long time".Israel's internal security minister said at one scene that this was "an attack we haven't seen in a long time".
This year has seen a spate of deadly gun and knife attacks targeting Israelis, triggering waves of Israeli military raids in Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank. But the use of explosives in Jerusalem would be the most significant attack of its kind in years. The atmosphere in the city feels volatile in a year of intensifying violence.
Palestinian gun and knife attacks have targeted Israelis, and Israeli military raids have killed Palestinian gunmen and civilians in the occupied West Bank.
A return to the use of explosives in Jerusalem makes it one of the most significant attacks of its kind in years.
No group has so far said it was behind the blasts. However, the Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad both praised the perpetrators of what they referred to as the "operation".
Teen's killing casts spotlight on Israel tacticsTeen's killing casts spotlight on Israel tactics
Israelis killed in W Bank knife and car attackIsraelis killed in W Bank knife and car attack
The first explosion happened in Givat Shaul, close to the main entrance to the city, at around 07:05 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday. About 30 minutes later, there was a second blast in Ramot Junction, another entrance to the city. The first explosion happened in Givat Shaul, close to the main entrance to Jerusalem, just after 07:00 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
Videos from one scene showed people running and debris scattered across the street. Israeli medics said the blast wounded 12 people, including the teenage boy who died later at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
Israeli police said an initial investigation suggested that both blasts were caused by explosive devices placed at the scenes and that officers suspected this was a "combined terror attack". About 30 minutes later, there was a second blast in Ramot Junction, another entrance to the city. It left three people with minor injuries.
The Haaretz newspaper cited a police source as saying that both devices contained nails and were likely to have been detonated remotely. At the scene of the first explosion, the pavement was scattered with debris. Masked Israeli security forces sealed off the site, while the pieces of a badly damaged bicycle were put into forensics bags.
"It's a very difficult morning," Israeli Internal Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev told reporters. One man from a Jewish ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood opposite told the BBC that he was woken as his building shook. Many of those waiting for buses were apparently from the community.
"There's a high probability that there's a connection between the attacks. These are not copycats. I believe that we'll put our hand on all involved." A small protest was also taking place with a sign held by young Israeli men calling for "revenge".
Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai called on the public to contact the emergency services if they saw anything out of the ordinary. A bus in Ramot Junction was pocked with what appeared to be shrapnel from the blast
Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid was convening a special meeting with the country's security chiefs, Israeli media reported. The head of the Israeli police's operations division, Deputy Commissioner Sigal Bar Zvi, said the bombs were made with "high quality" explosives and that they were placed in a bush and behind a wall at the bus stops.
It comes as Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party continue negotiations to form a new coalition government with allied far-right and religious parties. They won a majority in parliament in this month's general election. Given the nature of the attacks, she added, investigators suspect they were masterminded by an organised cell.
Ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is set to become internal security minister and oversee the police force, visited the scene of the first explosion and declared that Israel had to take action to deter Palestinian attacks. Israeli media cited security sources as saying that both devices contained nails and were likely to have been detonated remotely.
Earlier, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said the attacks were unlike any seen in recent times.
Officers were scanning "all possibly hazardous areas, whether at bus stations, buses or crowded areas" for more bombs and were "making an effort to get our hands on whoever committed this terror attack".
Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid convened a special meeting with the country's security chiefs.
In an address at a ceremony in Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said: "This terror attack will not weaken us, will not make us doubt our belief in our ways, or in our right to a peaceful and safe life in Israel, including in our eternal capital of Jerusalem."
The attacks come as Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party continue negotiations to form a new coalition government with allied far-right and religious parties.
They won a majority in parliament in this month's general election.
Mr Netanyahu tweeted that he was "praying to the health of the people injured in the co-ordinated terror attack in Jerusalem this morning and send my support to the security forces who are operating on the ground".
Ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is set to become Mr Netanyahu's internal security minister and oversee the police force, visited the scene of the first explosion and declared that Israel had to take action to deter Palestinian attacks.
"Even if it's in the West Bank, lay siege to them and go from house to house in search of guns and restore our deterrence power," he said."Even if it's in the West Bank, lay siege to them and go from house to house in search of guns and restore our deterrence power," he said.
The US embassy in Israel tweeted that it condemned "in strongest possible terms today's terrorist attacks on public locations in Jerusalem and offers sincere condolences to the victims and their loved ones". There was no immediate confirmation from Canada that one its citizens was killed, but its embassy said it strongly condemned the "abhorrent terror attacks".
"Terrorism is a dead-end that accomplishes absolutely nothing," it added. "We send our condolences to the family of the victim and wish a speedy recovery to those injured in these bombings," it added.
The UK ambassador to Israel said he was "shocked by the terrorist attacks". The US embassy also condemned the bombings and warned: "Terrorism is a dead-end that accomplishes absolutely nothing."