The town of Beitar Illit is under a lockdown Thursday night as Israeli forces search for a suspected terrorist who was believed to have planted an improvised explosive device on a bus. Residents have been instructed to stay inside their homes and lock their doors and windows until further notice.

Security footage from the bus showed a person leaving the vehicle before smoke was seen rising from one of the seats, followed by another person running out of the bus. The IDF confirmed that the suspicious bag found on the bus contained a suspected IED, which was neutralized by police sappers.

The incident occurred shortly after a Palestinian terrorist wounded three people in a shooting outside a cafe in Tel Aviv.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have been high, with the IDF conducting nightly raids in the West Bank amid a series of deadly Palestinian terror attacks.

Palestinian attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank in recent months have left 14 Israelis dead.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)