Aryeh Shtsupak, 16, was killed this morning in Jerusalem as two explosions hit bus stops. More than 20 people were wounded, two critically, at the Givat Sha’ul entrance to Jerusalem and at the Jerusalem Ramot Junction in the two attacks that took place between 7 and 8 a.m. local time, a peak commuter hour.
Two of the people injured are reportedly American citizens. US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides tweeted, "Sadly, I can now confirm that two US citizens were among those injured in today’s terror attacks in Jerusalem. As we head into Thanksgiving, I am grateful that they will recover. I pray for a peaceful holiday in the US, Jerusalem, or wherever you may be celebrating."
Israeli police consider the incidents a coordinated double Palestinian terror attack. According to preliminary investigations, both explosions were caused by remotely detonated explosive devices packed with nails and left in bags either inside or next to buses. For the moment, no terror group had taken responsibility for the attacks.
Hundreds of police officers are now deployed in the areas of the attacks and some of the main Jerusalem traffic axes are closed. Police are searching for the perpetrators and to ensure no other explosive devices have been concealed in high-traffic areas of the city.
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