Israel Matzav

Breaking: Explosion at Jerusalem Central Bus Station; UPDATE: LIVEBLOG

I've just received word of a major explosion at the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. More (as updates to this post) when I have it.

UPDATE 3:30 PM

The explosion was next to a 74 bus next to Binyanei HaUma (the National Buildings) across from the Central Bus Station.

As of now, no one dead, 15 moderately to severely wounded, 10 lightly wounded.

Our 11.5 year-old son is on his way to a school competition and is supposed to pass through that area. Fortunately, we don't believe he would have been there by then (the explosion was at 3:06 pm), and he would not have been on the 74 bus.

Yes, unfortunately, this is the first thought that Israelis have when they hear of terror attacks.

It was apparently an explosive device next to a kiosk - not a suicide bomber.

Here's more from the Jerusalem Post:

An explosion took place on or near a bus in central Jerusalem Wednesday afternoon.

Police first received reports of an explosion outside the Binyanei Ha'uma building in central Jerusalem and Magen David Adom units reported casualties.

A large number of police and ambulances were on the scene.

Initial reports said that around 18 people were injured in the attack although the exact number was not known.

More when I have it.

Subject to work obligations, this is now a liveblog.

UPDATE 3:38 PM

You can watch live television coverage on Cable Channel 10 which is showing the evacuation of the terror attack site here.

UPDATE 3:41 PM

The explosive device was attached to a telephone poll and the explosion took place opposite Binyanei HaUma apparently on the side that is heading out of the city. But the television just said that the bus was headed for Maaleh Adumim, which is outside the city.

5 wounded have been brought to Hadassah Har HaTzofim and 10 to Hadassah Ein Karem (two hospitals on opposite ends of the city - Ein Karem always gets the most serious cases). One person is apparently critical.

UPDATE 3:47 PM

Looking at the pictures I was right regarding where the explosion took place - it's on the side heading out of the city toward the Jerusalem - Tel Aviv highway.

UPDATE 3:51 PM

Channel 10 reports that the terrorist probably came from Hebron - they believe a much better job has been done of cleaning up terror in Jenin and Shchem (Nablus) than was done in Hebron.

UPDATE 4:22 PM

6 wounded in Hadassah Har HaTzofim, 12 in Hadassah Ein Karem, 11 in Shaare Zedek and two in Terem (which is not a hospital, but which is much closer to where the explosion occurred).

There's only one person (in Ein Karem) whose life is in danger.

UPDATE 4:28 PM

Earlier I noted that the bus was headed for Maaleh Adumim, which was what the radio said. That sounded suspicious to me and in fact it's incorrect. The bus was headed to Jerusalem's Har Nof neighborhood. The 74 bus runs between Ramot and Har Nof.

I mentioned my 11.5 year old son at the top of this post. He might have been in the area (or he might not have been there yet), but he would not have been on the 74 bus since he left from our house. Had he left directly from school, he might have been on that bus (God forbid).

The bomb was 1-2 kilograms and it exploded when there were two buses nearby.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has delayed his departure to Russia which was supposed to be now.

As of now, the Jerusalem Marathon, which is scheduled for Friday, has not been canceled.

UPDATE 4:36 PM

I've added a screen shot at the top of this post of the right front section of the bus. All the windows on the right side were blown out.

Keep in mind that all this was from a 1-2 kilogram bomb - in the days of the suicide bombers they carried larger bombs on their persons.

UPDATE 4:40 PM

Fox News is live from the attack site here. But they have very little sound.

As I was writing this update, our son called. Thank God he is okay. He arrived in the area after the explosion and his bus was diverted and ended up in nearby Givat Shaul. He then walked for about half an hour until he found the second bus he was supposed to take. But he is okay. Thank God.

UPDATE 4:53 PM

YNet reports that a BBC reporter was shoved and called an anti-Semite by 'Haredim.' The 74 bus was headed for Har Nof, which is mostly a Haredi neighborhood.

No, I don't believe 'Haredim' did it because they believed he was an anti-Semite. More likely trying to keep him out of Zaka's way (Zaka are the people who scrape away all the blood and bury it).

UPDATE 4:57 PM

Israel Radio now confirming one dead. A woman. No further details. Probably the older woman we heard was being rushed into surgery at Ein Karem.

UPDATE 4:59 PM

Netanyahu leaving for Russia at 8:00. Israel Radio just ended open broadcast of updates from terror attack scene. That means things are going back to normal.

Labels: Palestinian terror

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:22 PM