Two U.S. citizens were among the injured after a pair of explosions rocked two bus stops in Jerusalem during the height of the rush hour commute Wednesday morning, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel confirmed.
The bombs injured at least 18 victims and killed a Canadian-Israeli teenager in what Israeli police said were attacks by Palestinians.
“Sadly, I can now confirm that two U.S. citizens were among those injured in today’s terror attacks in Jerusalem,” Amb. Tom Nides tweeted. “As we head into Thanksgiving, I am grateful that they will recover. I pray for a peaceful holiday in the U.S., Jerusalem, or wherever you may be celebrating.”
The first explosion occurred just after 7 a.m. local time at a crowded bus station. Israeli police suspect that a bag with explosives was detonated remotely.
WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACKS IN JERUSALEM, MOURNS LOSS OF LIFE
Members of Zaka Rescue and Recovery team clean blood from the scene of an explosion at a bus stop in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022.
(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
The second went off about half an hour later in Ramot, a settlement in the city’s north. Police said one person died from their wounds and at least three were seriously wounded in the blasts.
Police, who were searching for the suspected attackers, said their initial findings showed that shrapnel-laden explosive devices were placed at the two sites. The police said it deployed additional officers to the city in the aftermath of the blasts.
WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACKS IN JERUSALEM, MOURNS LOSS OF LIFE
Israeli police inspect the scene of an explosion at a bus stop in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022.
(AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
The victim who died was identified as Aryeh Schupak, 15, who was heading to a Jewish seminary when the blast went off, according to a notice announcing his death. Schupak was also a Canadian citizen, according to Canada’s Ambassador to Israel Lisa Stadelbauer.
Israeli police inspect the scene of an explosion at a bus stop in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. Two blasts have gone off near bus stops in Jerusalem, killing one person and injuring at least 14, in what Israeli police said were suspected attacks by Palestinians.
(AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said Israel would track down the attackers.
“They can run, they can hide — it won’t help them,” he said in a statement. “We will punish them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Fox News’ Ronn Blitzer and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
