Israeli police have confirmed that a small bomb exploded on a bus in Jerusalem on Monday during the evening rush hour. Eye witnesses said an empty
Israeli police have confirmed that a small bomb exploded on a bus in Jerusalem on Monday during the evening rush hour.
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Eye witnesses said an empty bus caught fire and exploded as a second bus was nearby, injuring at least 15 people, at least two of them seriously. Police at first said the incident bore all the hallmarks of a militant attack, and their initial fears have been confirmed.
The bus was travelling to Hebron at the time of the explosion, which eye-witnesses described as large. Both vehicles caused traffic chaos as they burned in the middle of the busy road until fire crews could put them out.
No-one had yet claimed responsibility by Monday evening.
Attacks on buses were common in Israel from 2000 to 2005 when they were a target of choice for Palestinian extremists, but have been all-but eliminated since Israel tightened security and began building its concrete wall around Jerusalem.
#Jerusalem mayor: Bus blast was a terror attack caused by bomb https://t.co/yHrLEuWUoD pic.twitter.com/qJiy6GFJuV
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) 18 April 2016