14 injured in explosions at bus stops in Jerusalem Italian police arrest nearly 50 suspected ‘Ndrangheta mafiosi’

At least 14 people were injured in two explosions at bus stops in the Jerusalem area, police said. At least one of the injured was in life-threatening condition on Wednesday, and several were seriously injured, according to the Israeli rescue service. The police spoke of the suspicion of a combined attack. In the past, there have been repeated attacks by militant Palestinian organizations in Jerusalem.

The first explosion occurred at a bus stop on the outskirts of the city, injuring 11 people. Shortly afterwards, there were reports of another explosion at a bus stop in Ramot, north of the city. Rescue workers treated three injured people there. Police blocked the highway to Tel Aviv because of the explosion on the outskirts of the city. The search for suspects is underway, police said.

Israeli MP Joav Ben-Zur of the strictly religious Shas party spoke of a “return to the horror and difficult and bloody days of the second Palestinian uprising Intifada”. Israel’s deterrent power is barely present. “Terror rears its ugly head every day,” he said.

A wave of terror has killed 18 people in Israel since March. In addition, several Israeli civilians and security forces were killed in attacks in the West Bank this year. Since the spring, the Israeli army has also been conducting more raids on the occupied West Bank.

More than 140 Palestinians have been killed this year in connection with military operations, clashes or friendly attacks, according to the Health Ministry. There are also increasing reports of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, Israeli activists or soldiers. (aeg/sda/dpa)