Gunmen Open Fire At Israeli Bus Stop, Kill Five, Wound Several
At least five people were killed and several others injured on Monday when gunmen opened fire at a crowded bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Israeli emergency services confirmed.
Police said two assailants drove to Ramot Junction and began shooting indiscriminately at civilians waiting for transport.
They were gunned down on the spot by a security officer and an armed civilian. Weapons, ammunition, and a knife were recovered from the scene.
Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency response service, reported that the victims included three men in their 30s and a man and woman in their 50s.
Six others remain in critical condition, while more sustained moderate to mild injuries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the site, declared that Israel was “at war against terrorism” and vowed to continue security operations in Gaza, Jerusalem, and the West Bank.
He disclosed that hundreds of attempted attacks had been foiled this year, though Monday’s assault turned deadly.
President Isaac Herzog described the incident as “absolute evil,” praising “extraordinary acts of heroism” that prevented even greater casualties.
The attack is the deadliest shooting in Jerusalem in nearly two years. The last major assault of this scale occurred in November 2023, when two Hamas gunmen killed three Israelis at another bus stop.
Although Hamas did not claim responsibility for Monday’s attack, the group issued a statement welcoming it.
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, condemned the shooting and called for restraint and renewed peace efforts. Germany, Belgium, and Poland also denounced terrorism and urged diplomatic solutions.
Following the incident, Israeli forces sealed off the area, deployed troops to nearby West Bank communities, and closed surrounding roads as a precaution.
Reuters
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