Residents of Jerusalem, Israel woke up to two explosions early Wednesday morning.
The first happened at a bus station at around 7 am, and injured at least 12 people, including a teenager who died. At least three of the injured were in serious condition in local hospitals.
The second explosion was at about 7:30 am at Jerusalem’s Ramot junction. No one was killed but three people had minor injuries. Among those injured were two Americans, according to the US Ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides.
Police say that the bombs were placed at the sites and detonated remotely by cell phones. The blasts contained nails and metal balls. They are looking for the suspects.
According to a police spokesperson, the terrorists knew the neighborhoods well. Responsibility for the attacks has not been claimed, as of Wednesday afternoon.
A teenager, 15-year-old yeshiva student, Aryeh Shechopek, was killed in the explosion. He lived in the Har Nof area of Jerusalem.
Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the teen was “a boy who never wronged anyone in the world.”
“He was murdered simply because he was Jewish,” Lapid said.
At least 29 people have been killed in Israel this year due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At least 146 Palestinians have been killed.
Images at the bus station blast showed damages to a parked bus and debris on the scene. Paramedics said there were people lying on the ground injured when they arrived – a teenager at the bus stop and a 45-year-old on the sidewalk.
The attack was condemned by the US Embassy in Jerusalem on Twitter. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre gave a statement saying the US stands with the government and citizens of Israel.
The latest attacks are causing far-right leaders to mount pressure to form a new government that is tougher on terrorists. Benjamin Netanyahu, who will likely gain back his position as prime minister, is trying to form what could be Israel’s most right-wing government in history.