UPDATES IN EXTENDED STORY: 1:22PM EST: [CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS] Following are pieces of information as they become available. One must remember that the information is being reported as it is released, explaining the conflicting reports and changes in numbers and so-forth, with the facts being reported in ‘real-time’.
At about noon, a terrorist started driving with a tractor, driving very quickly and erratically, striking anything in his path. He began his death drive on Sarei Yisrael Street, turning onto Jaffa Street, continuing to strike a number of vehicles, resulting in minor damage to some while others were crushed.
A number 13 bus which left the Malcha Depot at 11:30AM sustained a major blow when the tractor slammed into it at a high speed, knocking the bus carrying with 35 passengers on its side. The driver was lightly-to-moderately injured and some of the passengers were injured as well, apparently at least one seriously.
The tractor also attempted to strike a number 60 bus, but the driver noticed his actions, understanding what was taking place, permitting him to avoid a direct strike. As was reported earlier, the driver shouted to a nearby security guard to fire at the tractor driver, but he was too afraid the driver told police.
Eventually, the lone terrorist, an eastern Jerusalem resident, was eliminated by gunfire when a soldier and a Yassam police commando officer fired at him.
The response was quick as Jerusalem emergency personnel are well trained for such incidents, with police EMS and other first-response units making their way to the scene, about 1.5 blocks from the central bus station as police began closing down downtown Yerushalayim, creating a perimeter.
It did not take long for MDA dispatchers to understand the magnitude of what was taking place, immediately realizing a terrorist has struck, prompting the declaration of a multi-causality incident, alerting all units, including on-call paramedics and EMTs.
The city’s hospitals were placed on alert, informing emergency rooms and trauma centers to prepare to receive wounded.
According to the last report, at least 17 victims were transported to Shaare Zedek Medical Center, with one being pronounced dead on arrival from massive trauma to the chest.
Police stated that following an initial assessment believe the attack was not spontaneous, but a well-planned terror attack perpetrated by a Jerusalem Arab resident, who they mentioned has a criminal record.
It appears now the death count may be three, with police explaining the forth body appears to be that of the terrorist. The numbers are yet unconfirmed!
Prof. Shmuel Shapira, the deputy director of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital explains the trauma unit is designed to receive the largest number of the most seriously wounded but in this case, they received six victims, all listed in light-to-moderate condition.
UPDATE 13:12PM:
Prof. Yonatan Halevy, the medical director of Shaare Zedek Medical Center reports 18 victims, one moderate, the remainder light Baruch Hashem. Dr. Halevy reports that two infants were brought in, both uninjured, and they are being monitored since it appears they were separated from their parents.
Police stated the terrorist acted on his own, added that while at present there are 5 credible terror alerts nationwide, there were no specific alerts pointing to this attack.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is conferring with his most senior defense and intelligence advisors as they evaluate the situation.
AS WE GO TO PRINT:
Israel Radio is reporting a total of 42 victims were transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
****
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
The last terror attack in Yerushalayim, in Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva in which eight students were murdered, was also perpetrated by a lone terrorist, also a resident of Yerushalayim.
Police have stepped-up the alert status around the country.
UPDATE 2:00PM IL: Police are reporting 4 dead, 44 injured, with 2 listed in moderate condition, the remainder light in the Wednesday afternoon terror attack in the capital.
Police are also reporting the terrorist was married with children, also confirming he was a resident of Jerusalem.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel / All photos credits: thegreatfixer via Yehuda Boltshauser)
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35 Responses
He was married with children? I belive it was Golda Meir who said “when they start loving their children more than they hate us, there will be no more terror.” Perfect example.
Reboina shel oilam… Yerusholaim!!!
Everyone should take even a moment to daven for the recovery of each injured person. May we hear besoros tovos.
Olam Hatorah
and they keep on employing the arabs to build our houses
I think some of the pictures should be reconsidered. Not ever pic that makes it to AP or Reuters is appropriate for a frum website.
yw editor -picture 8 is not needed , i dont think we need to show actual dead bodies , there are lots of kids who look at this site that dont need to see this
I don’t know about anyone else, but I just have a feeling that most people would not like a picture of them dead circulating around the whole world- even if the photographer is kind enough to blur their face. And we’re not even gonna get into how their family would feel if they saw such a picture.
“CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS” -I don’t know about anyone else here, but I just have a feeling that most people would not appriciate a picture of them dead going arond the whole world -even if the photographer was kind enough to blur their face. And we’re not even going to talk about how the family would feel during a time of such pain, seeing such a picture or knowing that it is on public display.
From JPOST- THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!
Finally, an off-duty soldier took a gun from a citizen at the scene and shot the terrorist, who cried “Allah Akhbar” (God is great) before being killed. The soldier, Moshe Klessner, was assisted in neutralizing the attacker by Eli Mizrahi, a member of police’s elite Yasam anti-terror unit.
>>>>Klessner, 18, is the brother-in-law of IDF officer David Shapira, who killed the terrorist in the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva attack on March 6
IT CANT BE COINCIDENCE! Wonder what the Ribono shel Olam is sending????
YWN -thank you for your immediate response (pictures)!!!
Zaka was on the scene doing there holy work. What a scene. Hashem yeracheim.Zaka took out a crushed stroller & infant seat from the car what was totally crushed I believe that baby survived.
the israeli papers are repoting 3 dead not 4
This incident comes just one week after the TOEVA PARADE desecrated the Holy City in the center of Jerusalem–COINCIDENCE???
Some readers were offended by the content of some of the pictures displayed. Did anybody thank the YW for removing them immediately?
Thank you YW for always listening to readers concers.
Everyone knows there are other sites to look at, but there is only 1 YWN. Which is truly #1.
Keep it up.
Ttyl…
TO: the voos (no 10):
You’re right, it’s not a coincidence. This massacre comes just one week after the anti-emuna regime rammed-through a TOEVA PARADE in the center of Jerusalem.
We cant be having terror attacks after all there is a cease fire??!
Yishmaelim are chayas! They need to have major bombs dropped on them and the heck with what the lib press says. Get rid of ALL OF THEM once and for all. Enough is enough.
Just remember, Meir Kahane ZL was 10000% correct!
NOTE: At the time when the photographer took the said photos, there were only casualties – and their faces were blurred. As soon as it was confirmed that they were dead, those photos were promptly removed.
#15, ‘V’hu yihyeh pereh adam’, you got it on the button!
#14:
I don’t think that it is for us to place motives on Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s decisions, unless a YWN reader feels that he has nevuah, and would like to share it with us.
A tremendous thank you should go to the brave Tzahal soldiers who killed this monster.
Baruch Hashem we have these brave young men. We should be davening for them regularly.
Yes, pictures can be painful and distrubing. But to feel the true tzar of Acheinu bnei yisrael from places as far as the US can sometimes be hard. One had to walk through the streets and/or sit on a city bus after the attack to hear and feel the airy silence that prevailed while everyone was hurt and shocked. This is the feeling that lingers after every attack in eretz yisroel, no matter what miflagah or sect etc.. you’re from. Sometimes a picture can speak a thousand and more words, it comforts to know that all brothers of one beautiful nation come together and feel and pray together. In addition, the terrorist was said to be a brother-in-law of the Merkaz Harav Terrorist and like at Mercaz Harav the Israeli Government credits a policeman for the end of the rampage(that a policeman killed him first) when an innocent civilian came to be moser nefesh, by killing the terrorist and saving more lives. The videos posted on various news channels is witness to that. We praise the government for their efforts but nothing as heroic as one that performs chessed without knowing if he’ll pay the price of his life or not. Just do it, cuz’ it’s gotta be done. And never forget before we praise: “ד’ היה הוה ויהיה”- Hashem gives us the sechel, Koach and Mazel of course.
its a sad day for all. three jewish neshomos flushed out because of a terrorist action in yerusalayim. its makes no difference if it occurred any where else. jews being slaughtered and the world is silent.
wait, in the near future when israel will have to take action against iran, the world will cry as if the whole world went up into flames. the ribono shel olam should have racmonis on the shereath hapleitoh and we should see the coming of moshiach bkorev mamesh.
In israel,
THat was indeed a heartrending, painful story. The mother, seeing that the bulldozer is going nuts in either direction realized there’s no way out since it was coming right in front of her so she quickly threw her baby out the window onto the sidewalk. The baby survived and the mother:”Baruch Dayan Ha’emes”.
I live right next to where the attack ocurred so we were there and heard everything thereafter.
one of the killed (the lady who was crushed in the silver/grey car) was my cusins mother (wifes uncle’s ex wife). She leaves three children, a 20/21 year old son in the IDf who was on the Egyptian border at the time, another 18 year old son in Yeshiva and a 16 year old daughter in school.
everyone should know that the person taking those photos (my brother) was himself on the bus. he is BH ok .He did go to the hospital after a couple hoursbutnot before helping some of the injured yidden. (he has first aid training) his bloody shirt he now tells me need to be buried as he is now aware that the person being helped was niftar.
imagine if jews would perform terror attacks on ‘innocent/ civilian’ arabs. What a storm it would create! The terrorist organizations would take revenge & c”v kill all the jews. The world would mix in & ban all Israel, etc.
But now when it’s the other way around is anything being done???
Please note that this terrible incident took place very near to the “String Bridge”, which was dedicated last week – in a very pritzus fashion. The holy city was also witness to the rotten “Mitzad Hagaava” the other week.
Hashem is demanding the kavod of His Holy City !!!
Att. deepthinker It’s a good thing to know that you are G-D’s Secretary.
Does anybody know if any terrorist organization was behind this horrible act.
#14 said: This incident comes just one week after the TOEVA PARADE desecrated the Holy City in the center of Jerusalem–COINCIDENCE???
Comment by deepthinker — July 2, 2008 @ 11:06 am
The answer to taht deepthinker is, yes it might be a coincidence. you got proof othewise?
We should get together and not hire Arab workers. Its a question of pikiach nefesh.
Lets get together not to hire Arab workers. We cant trust them.
We should do something about this. Fight back by not hireing them. thank you.
to #32 ..and it might not be a coincidence (which is more likely if you believe there is a “manik l’bire” and de velt is nit hefker tzu tuhn vos mevll), you got proove otherwise ?
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Shacharit: 6:30 AM
Mincha: 7:30 PM Maariv: 8:15 PM
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Shacharit: Friday: 8:00 AM; Sunday-Wednesday: 7:00 AM
Mincha: 7:30 PM Maariv: 8:15 PM
as long as there is light you can fix