Israeli Police Condemn Bus Attack As 'Terrorist Act'
Israeli police reported Monday that a public bus was the target of an alleged terrorist attack in Jerusalem. The attack came shortly after an Israeli soldier was shot in another part of the city by a man on a motorcycle.
The bizarre incident took place Monday morning on the streets of Jerusalem, when a mostly-empty bus was flipped over by a construction excavator being driven by a Palestinian. The alleged attacker used the excavator to flip the bus into other cars, and two passengers were injured while a pedestrian was killed.
Jerusalem district police chief Yossi Piranti said a local police officer then opened fire on the extractor driver and killed him, thus avoiding a large-scale attack. Israel's government officials released a statement calling the incident a "terrorist attack."
"Because of the quick reaction of the police an even graver incident was avoided," Piranti said.
The incident came just before an Israeli soldier was shot by a man on a scooter in another part of Jerusalem, also on Monday. Police are reportedly investigating this incident, and the soldier is reportedly severely wounded but still alive.
Piranti added to media outlets that the government "[believes] there is a great likelihood this was a terrorist attack," meaning that there was Palestinian involvement.
The attacks came Monday as Israel ended its 7-hour "humanitarian" cease-fire that was called to allow aid to enter the Gaza Strip. The cease-fire was only agreed upon by Israel, and the country said the brief cease-fire window did not apply to places on the Gaza Strip where Israeli soldiers were already stationed.
Although Israel has ramped down its ground operation in Palestine to destroy Hamas tunnels, it continues with aerial attacks of the Gaza strip as The Gaza War enters its fourth week. Over 1,800 Palestinians have been killed in the recent fighting, as well as 60 Israelis.
