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A twin terror bombing of Jerusalem’s bus stations has left a 16-year-old student dead and injured 22 others, in what Israeli police suspect was a coordinated terror attack in Israel’s capital. Early investigations suggest the bombs – the first such attack since 2016 – were remotely detonated and had been packed with nails and screws to maximise the damage.
Aryeh Schupak, a dual Israeli-Canadian citizen was murdered in the first of the two bombings at a bus stop near the western entrance to Jerusalem, as he was travelling to school. Another bomb was detonated at a bus stop near the main entrance to Jerusalem.
The preparators of the attack are yet to be identified and no group has yet claimed responsibility, but both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have praised the bombings and security experts have stated that the devices would have required input from a major terror group. The targeting of bus stops and buses was a common tactic during the second intifada between 2000 and 2005, but has been rare during recent years. Israeli Police Commissioner, Yaakov Shabtai said the attack possessed “features of a kind we haven’t seen in a long time” and he couldn’t say whether “both bombs were planted by the same terrorist or two terrorists committed the attacks”.
Outgoing Prime Minister, Yair Lapid has pledged that the security forces would “find these heinous terrorists, those behind them and those who provided them with weapons”. He added: “I want to say to the citizens of Israel: we will find them. They can run, they can hide – it won’t help them; the security forces will reach them”.
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau said he was “incredibly saddened to learn about the death of a young Canadian in the terrorist attack in Jerusalem” and that he sends his condolences to Aryeh’s family and those injured by the bombings.
Another victim of the attack, is an Ethiopian immigrant to Israel who remains in critical condition after sustaining serious head injuries. It has been noted across Israeli society that the attack took place on the Ethiopian Jewish Sigd holiday. Presumed Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu wished a speedy recovery to those injured by the attack and drew attention to the most seriously injured Ethiopian victim, stating: “Today is a festival for Ethiopian Jews. The terror attack occurred on the Sigd holiday, and indeed today we pray for his recovery”.
