Jerusalem District Police chief Doron Turgeman on Wednesday ordered the deployment of additional personnel in Jerusalem, following two deadly terrorist bombings in the city earlier in the day.
Forces will be bolstered throughout the capital, with a specific focus on high-density public areas, according to a police statement. The alert level has been raised across the country, according to a police spokesman.
Sixteen-year-old Israeli-Canadian Aryeh Shechopek was killed and more than 20 injured Wednesday morning in two explosions at bus stops located near entrances to Jerusalem.
“I am sending condolences on behalf of all citizens of Israel to the family of Aryeh Shechopek ... who was killed today in the terrible terrorist attack. May his memory be for a blessing,” Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted in the attack’s aftermath.
אני שולח תנחומים בשם כל אזרחי ישראל למשפחתו של אריה שצ'ופק ז״ל שנרצח היום בפיגוע הקשה בירושלים. יהי זכרו ברוך. pic.twitter.com/3goOCflO5X
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 23, 2022
The first explosion occurred near the main entrance to the Israeli capital shortly after 7 a.m., and the second followed about 30 minutes later, at the Ramot junction.
The Biden administration denounced the bombings, with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre saying in a statement, “We condemn unequivocally the acts of terror overnight in Jerusalem. The United States has offered all appropriate assistance to the government of Israel as it investigates the attack and works to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides confirmed on Wednesday night that two American citizens were among those wounded.
“Sadly, I can now confirm that two U.S. citizens were among those injured in today’s terror attacks in Jerusalem,” tweeted Nides. “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.”
Authorities believe that the source of the blasts were two remotely detonated nail-bombs.
Police described the explosives as “high quality,” and suggested an organized terror cell planned and carried out the attack.
