One Dead in Blast at Jerusalem Bus Station

by Gil Ronen and Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu 

An explosion across from Jerusalem's Central Bus Station Wednesday afternoon in Jerusalem killed one elderly woman and wounded 50 others, two seriously.

The explosive charge was placed at a public telephone booth and was detonated as two packed buses passed by. The buses sustained moderate damage in the explosion.

The terrorist who planted the bomb apparently escaped the scene. Security officials said there were no specific indications of an impending terrorist attack in Israel's capital.

Jerusalem's Mayor, Nir Barkat, was on the scene minutes after the blast encouraging citizens not to allow the attack to change their lives. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was in his Jerusalem residence, preparing to fly to Moscow, when the bombing occurred.

At approximately 3:45 P.M., the ZAKA rescue service reported gunfire near the Sakharov Gardens, not far from the scene of the blast. This report was retracted a few minutes later.

Wednesday's attack was the first major terrorist incident in Jerusalem since the tractor attacks and the massacre of eight people at the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva in March 2008.

See video at: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/143084

 - Having just visited Jerusalem and passed through the Central Bus Station and this general area several times, this crime and loss of life is almost tangible in its closeness. May HaShem comfort His people; may His protection; and His presence fill this place and may His will be done this day.

My heartfelt condolences to the family of the women so tragically lost and to all injured - may healing come quickly.