One dead, 14 others hurt in Jerusalem twin bombings

Two explosions at bus stops on Jerusalem’s outskirts killed one person and wounded at least 14 others, health officials said, in what Israeli police said appeared to be an attack by Palestinian militants.

Police yesterday blamed the initial blast, which occurred during rush hour, on an explosive device planted at a bus station near the city exit. The second – about 30 minutes later – hit a bus stop in the vicinity of an urban settlement in the east of the city.

Police spokesperson Eli Levi told Army Radio the first blast was caused by a powerful explosive device.

Israeli army radio said the explosive devices were hidden in bags and at least one of them contained nails to maximise the impact.

Israel’s ambulance service said 12 people had been taken to hospital from the first blast and three people were wounded in the second explosion. One of the wounded died in hospital, the Shaare Zedek Medical Centre said.