Police confirmed the blast was ignited by an explosive device.
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Flames rise at the scene where an explosion tore through a bus in Jerusalem on Monday setting a second bus on fire, in what an Israeli official said was a bombing, April 18, 2016.
The explosion wounded at least 15 people.
She added that Israeli police forces, bomb experts, and firefighters were analyzing the situation to determine the circumstances behind the explosion.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded to Monday’s bus bombing in Jerusalem which left at least 16 wounded, including one critically and two seriously, pledging to find those responsible and “settle the score”.
Jerusalem police chief Yoram Halevy said Monday evening the blast was caused by an explosive device placed on the bus, putting an end to two hours of speculation over whether the blast was terror related or a technical malfunction.
Scenes from the explosion, published on Twitter by Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, revealed billowing smoke and a huge fire emanating from a burned-out bus. But it is still not resolved whether the person who planted the bomb was one of the passengers or not.
This is a developing story. We will reach the dispatchers.
The explosion comes with tensions high following a wave of violence that began in October that has killed 201 Palestinians and 28 Israelis.
“Extra police units and border police are patrolling public areas”, including bus stations and the light rail tram system in the city, he said, without specifying how many reinforcements.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack and it was not clear if it was carried out by an organised cell or a “lone-wolf” bomber. “We’re working carefully and cautiously to confirm whether it was a terrorist attack”, he said, according to JPost. They also say they’ve ruled out the possibility of a suicide bomb attack, Emily says, since they have seen no evidence of a bomber.
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Israel says the violence is fueled by a campaign of Palestinian incitement compounded on social media sites that glorify and encourage attacks. He said he didn’t have details about the device, but Israel Radio said it appeared to be an improvised bomb.
