2016 Jerusalem bus bombing

The 2016 Jerusalem bus bombing was a bomb attack targeting a bus in the Talpiot neighborhood in Jerusalem on 18 April 2016 at around 18:00.[2] The bomber was a member of Hamas, which however did not claim responsibility.[1] At least 21 people were injured, two critically.[3][4][5]

2016 Jerusalem bombing
Part of Israeli–Palestinian conflict (2015–2016)

The attack site
LocationTalpiot, Jerusalem
Date18 April 2016
18:00 (IDT)
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Suicide bombing
Deaths0 (+1 bomber)
Injured20
PerpetratorAbdul Hamid Abu Srour (Hamas)[1]

Attack

The explosion, on an Egged bus #12, set an adjacent bus, which was mostly empty, and a nearby car aflame. Most of the injuries were to passengers on the #12 Egged bus. It was the first attack on a bus in Jerusalem since 2011.[6]

A police forensic team discovered remnants of a bomb in the wreckage.[7] The investigation was under a police gag order.[7]

Victims

One day after the bombing, two victims were still hospitalized in serious condition and five in moderate condition.[7] 13 more sustained minor injuries, some of which had already been discharged from hospital.[7]

Perpetrator

The perpetrator, the 19-year-old Abdul Hamid Abu Srour, lost several limbs and succumbed in hospital several days after the bombing, Police did not initially confirm whether or not one of the individuals hospitalized was the bomber.

Hamas admitted that the perpetrator was a member of the West Bank branch of the organization, but did not claim responsibility for the bombing,[8][9][10] It hailed the bomber as a "martyr."[1]

Reactions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation; "We will locate those who prepared this explosive device. We will reach the dispatchers. We will also reach those behind them. We will settle the score with these terrorists."[11]

On the Palestinian side, reactions were mixed. Hamas spokesman in Gaza praised the bombers, stating that it "Blesses the Jerusalem operation" and Gaza mosques welcomed the attack with announcements over their loud speakers.[11][12] Another Hamas spokesman, Husam Badran said that "this attack affirms to everyone one that our people will not abandon the resistance path."[11] Islamic Jihad praised the bombing.[12]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, however, condemned the attack, saying that "we are against all forms of terrorist activity that affect Israeli and Palestinian civilians,"[13] and that the Palestinians "want to achieve an end to the occupation and the building of settlements through diplomatic means, and through peaceful resistance."[14]

References
  1. "Jerusalem bus blast: Hamas says member behind bombing". BBC. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  2. Kershner, Isabel. "Bus Bombing in Jerusalem Wounds 21". nytimes.com. New York Times. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  3. http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Initial-report-Jerusalem-bus-explodes-on-way-to-Hebron-451611>
  4. "Jerusalem bus blast wounds 21, called terror attack by police". usatoday.com. USA Today. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  5. Booth, William (18 April 2016). "A bomb blows up two buses in Jerusalem, stirring dark memories". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  6. Hasson, Nir (18 April 2016). "At Least 20 Wounded in Jerusalem Bus Blast Caused by Bomb". Haaretz. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  7. Eisenbud, Daniel (19 April 2016). "Few answers emerge 24 hours after Jerusalem bus bombing". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  8. Michael Pearson and Oren Liebermann, 'Jerusalem bus bombing work of Hamas operative, police say,' CNN 21 April 2016: ’Hamas said Wednesday in a statement on Hamas-run al-Aqsa TV and on the Hamas Twitter account that the bombing was conducted by a member of its military wing, Izzedine al Qassam. But the organization stopped short of a full claim of responsibility. The latest statement came from Hamas in the Bethlehem Governorate, not from the organization's official spokespeople in Gaza, where the group is based. Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups have praised the attack, but have not claimed responsibility.’
  9. 'Israel says Jerusalem bus bombing was Hamas suicide attack,' BBC News 21 April 2016.
  10. Peter Beaumont, 'Questions remain over Jerusalem bus attack after bomber named,' The Guardian 21 April 2016.
  11. "Jerusalem bus bombing wounds more than 20; police call it terror". Fox News. AP. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  12. "Jerusalem bus explodes in terror attack, injuring at least 21". Times of Israel. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  13. "Abbas Condemns Jerusalem Attack as Hamas Blasts PA Security Ties With Israel".
  14. "Merkel sharply criticizes Israeli settlement policy".

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