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Jerusalem: one dead and at least 22 injured from Palestinian attack

The explosions occurred at two bus stations located on the outskirts of the Israeli capital. It has been years since there had been a terrorist attack in Jerusalem.

Atentado palestino Jerusalén

(Cordon Press)

Published by
Rosana Rábago Sainz

A suspected Palestinian bombing left one 16-year-old dead and at least 22 wounded in two explosions at two bus stations on the outskirts of Jerusalem, reports The Times of Israel. The victim was identified as Aryeh Shtsupak.

According to Israeli authorities, this could be the first terrorist attack to occur in Jerusalem in years. "There hasn't been such a coordinated attack in Jerusalem for many years," police spokesman Eli Levi told Israeli Army Radio in a statement picked up by Reuters.

The explosions, authorities said, occurred during rush hour. The first one exploded at 7 a.m., while the second exploded half an hour later. According to Levi, the devices were hidden in bags which were covered with nails to do as much damage as possible. Kan Radio added that they could have been detonated "remotely."

MDA paramedics Moshe Tobolsky and Lior Levy arrived at the scene and told Kan Radio what happened:

We were at the MDA station at the entrance to the city when we heard the loud sound of an explosion and immediately went to the scene. Two seriously injured people were lying down, one of them a 16-year-old boy and the other a 45-year-old man. There were several others who were fully conscious and sustained moderate and minor injuries while walking around the scene.

Hamas terrorist group celebrates the attack

This same media outlet also revealed that the police had "prior intelligence for this type of incident in Jerusalem, but it was not focused and detailed on this particular attack."

No terrorist group admitted responsibility for this double bombing. However, the Hamas terrorist group celebrated the attack in a statement signed by Mohammad Hamada, which was reported by The Times of Israel:

We congratulate our Palestinian people and our people in the occupied city of Jerusalem for the heroic operation. The action conveyed the message to the occupation by saying that our people will stand firm on their land and cling to the path of resistance. The coming days will be intense and more difficult for the enemy. The time has come for the creation of cells that are spread all over Palestine and are ready for a confrontation.

After launching the investigation, Israeli police said in a statement that "it is suspected that this is a combined terror attack," and called on Israelis to exercise extreme caution for other possible attacks.

White House denounces attack

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reacted to the bombings that took place in Jerusalem, which she defined as "acts of terror." In addition, she assured in the press release, the United States will offer "all appropiate assistance" that Israel requires during its investigation:

We condemn unequivocally the acts of terror overnight in Jerusalem. The United States has offered all appropriate assistance to the Government of Israel as it investigates the attack and works to being the perpetrators to justice. We mourn the reported loss of life and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. The United States stands with the Government and people of Israel. As President Biden emphasized during his visit to Israel in July, our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad and unbreakable.
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