UPDATES IN EXTENDED STORY: 12:34PM IL: Magen David Adom reports at least 14 people have already been evacuated from the terror scene with 5 listed in moderate-to-serious condition.

The sight at the scene is one of horror with a number of cars crushed from the bulldozer which was driven by a lone terrorist, who crashed into cars and what now appears to be two buses, not one as believed earlier. The attack occurred on Jaffa Street near Sarei Yisrael, near the IBA Broadcasting Building, the old Shaare Zedek Hospital.

Unconfirmed reports state that at least 7 people are in serious condition and there are a number of dead on the scene, including a female driver whose vehicle was crushed by the impact.

Rescue workers have managed to extricate the passengers from the two buses and police are reporting the scene is “under control”. The area is closed down and helicopters are hovering overhead as border police and other units seal down the greater downtown Jerusalem area.

Unconfirmed reports also indicate the terrorist was a resident of eastern Jerusalem, and was employed on the new light rail system, explaining how he obtained the heavy vehicle.

EMS workers are trying to ascertain if there are people trapped under the buses which are flipped on their side.

More details to follow as they become available.

UPDATE 12:45PM IL: Police attempting to trace the steps of the terrorists indicate that according to eyewitness reports, he drove on Sarei Yisrael Street and turned left onto Jaffa Street. The attack occurred at approximately 12:00 noon. The terrorist smashed into a number of cars, crushing some, and then into two buses, turning them on their side.

Rescue workers on the scene believe there may be victims trapped under the remains of the buses, but report the passengers on board were successfully removed from the vehicles. It appears the driver of the tractor, the terrorist, was shot dead at close range by a police Yassam (SWAT) member.

EMS response was city-wide as MDA declared a multi-casualty incident shortly after the reports came into their central dispatch system. Hatzolah, ZAKA and other volunteer units, on motorcycles and in other vehicles responded from all areas of the city, working their way to the city center, just a little over a block from the city’s central bus station.

Area hospitals were placed on standby to receive the wounded, especially Hadassah Ein Kerem’s trauma center, which usually takes the most serious cases, along with Shaare Zedek Hospital’s trauma unit.

At present, there is much conflicting information but it appears to be in excess of 20 injured, with some listed in serious condition. There are a number of victims who were declared dead on the scene.

As we go to print, Jerusalem Police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby confirms the terrorist was a resident of eastern Jerusalem who was “known to police”.

UPDATE 12:55PM IL: According to MDA spokesman Ron Ratner, the terrorist slammed into a number 13 bus, flipping it over to the side. The driver of that bus was injured light-to-moderately. There were 35 passengers on the bus, some counted among the seriously injured.

The second bus hit was a number 60 bus, driven by an Arab driver according to Ratner. He reported the driver understood what was taking place and was able to implement an evasive maneuver, resulting in only a number of scratches. The driver told police he saw the tractor “smash everything in its way, without stopping, striking one vehicle after another. I shouted to a security guard from Israel Land’s Authority nearby, ‘Uzi shoot him!! It’s a terror attack! But he was too scared to fire at the terrorist, permitting him to continue’”.

Prof. Yonatan Halevy, the director of Shaare Zedek Medical Center reports one victim was pronounced dead on arrival, the result of massive chest injuries. In addition, there are 16 other, most appearing light and light-to-moderate at first glance. One is listed in moderate condition.

MDA sent one pager message stating 30 injures, with 4 in moderate condition and 2 serious. Channel 1 TV is reporting 4 dead, quoting Jerusalem Chief Franco.

ZAKA Chief Yehuda Meshi-Zahav reports that as of about 12:45, most of the victims were evacuated from the scene but there is still one being treated who was extricated from under a bus. ZAKA volunteers are now beginning to tend to the dead on the scene.

JERUSALEM CITY HALL EMERGENCY INFORMATION NUMBERS:
02-531-4600/1/2/3/4 (social workers are manning the phones)

SHAARE ZEDEK MEDICAL CENTER:
12-55-125

FAX FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED:
02-652-2950

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)