Israeli teenager killed, more than 20 injured in Jerusalem terror bombings
One Israeli was killed and more than 20 injured on Wednesday in two explosions at bus stops located near entrances to Jerusalem.
16-year-old Israeli Aryeh Shechopek. He also had Canadia citizenship
Authorities believe that the source of the blasts was two remotely detonated bombs packed with nails to cause maximum damage.
Police described the explosives as “high quality,” and suggested an organised terror cell planned and carried out the attack.
The first explosion occurred near the main entrance to the Israeli capital shortly after 7 a.m., and the second followed about 30 minutes later at the Ramot junction.
Eighteen people were injured in the first blast, five seriously, with one later succumbing to his wounds, according to medics. Several people were lightly injured in the second explosion or were suffering from anxiety.
The victims were evacuated to Jerusalem’s Shaare Tzedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem medical centres.
The deceased was identified as 16-year-old Israeli Aryeh Shechopek, a resident of Jerusalem’s Har Nof neighbourhood who was studying in a religious school.
Canadian Ambassador to Israel Lisa Stadelbauer confirmed that Shechopek also held Canadian citizenship.
Heartbroken to confirm that a young Canadian lost his life in this morning’s reprehensible terror attack in Jerusalem. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to others wounded in this attack. Canada continues to condemn all forms of terror.
— Lisa Stadelbauer (@LisaStadelbauer) November 23, 2022
Hundreds of people attended Shechopek’s funeral on Wednesday afternoon in Har Nof.
Israel Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai visited one of the scenes and held a situation assessment together with Jerusalem Police District head Doron Turgeman.
“This is a type of attack that we haven’t seen for many years,” said Shabtai.
He called on the public to be alert for suspicious packages, adding that every bus in Jerusalem would be searched.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz held a situation analysis following the attack, together with the head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israel Defense Forces deputy chief of staff.
Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted, “Praying for the peace of the injured in the combined attack in Jerusalem this morning and strengthening the hands of the security forces operating in the field.”
He added in a follow-up message: “I am sending condolences on behalf of all citizens of Israel to the family of Aryeh Shechopek…who was killed today in the terrible terrorist attack. May his memory be for a blessing.”
אני שולח תנחומים בשם כל אזרחי ישראל למשפחתו של אריה שצ’ופק ז״ל שנרצח היום בפיגוע הקשה בירושלים. יהי זכרו ברוך. pic.twitter.com/3goOCflO5X
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 23, 2022
United States Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides wrote on Twitter that he was “appalled” by the “cowardly” attack, and that his “heart breaks for the families of those who were harmed.”
Appalled by the cowardly terrorist attacks in Jerusalem today that targeted innocent civilians, including children. My heart breaks for the families of those who were harmed.
— Ambassador Tom Nides (@USAmbIsrael) November 23, 2022
Prime Minister Yair Lapid convened a security meeting on Wednesday afternoon attended by, among others, Gantz, Shabtai, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev.
“I would first like to send my condolences and the condolences of the government of Israel to the family of Aryeh Shechopek, of blessed memory. He was a boy who never wronged anyone in the world, and he was murdered simply because he was Jewish. I also wish a speedy and full recovery to the wounded,” said Lapid following the meeting.
“This event is different from what we have seen in recent years. An extensive intelligence effort is now underway that will lead us to find these heinous terrorists, those behind them, and those who provided them with weapons,” he continued. “I want to say to the citizens of Israel: We will find them. They can run, they can hide—it won’t help them; the security forces will reach them. If they resist, they will be eliminated. If not, we will punish them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Lapid added that he ordered the reinforcement of forces in the Jerusalem area.
Hamas praised the attack, saying in a statement that the “Zionist enemy” was “paying the price today for its crimes and aggression against our [Palestinian] people.”
The attack on Wednesday is the second deadly terrorist incident in as many weeks. Last Tuesday, three Israelis were killed and three others wounded when a Palestinian went on a stabbing and car-ramming rampage in and around the city of Ariel in Samaria.
In Wellington, the Israeli embassy commented: “This is an escalation in a wave of terrorism against Israeli civilians, as seen in recent months.
Israel will continue to act forcefully against the threat of terrorism. We will pursue and capture every terrorist who hurts the citizens of Israel. Anyone who tries to harm Israelis will pay a heavy price for it. The terrorists will not be able to escape and hide. Terrorism targeting Israeli citizens in unforgivable.
The events in Jenin and Jerusalem are fueled by an atmosphere of violence and incitement perpetrated by terrorist organizations.
We call on the international community to strongly condemn Palestinian terrorism and demand the Palestinians cease violence from within their society. In addition, we call for a Palestinian condemnation of these terrorist attacks.”
In Israel, Israeli officials vowed to catch the terrorists responsible for a pair of bombings in Jerusalem that killed one person and injured more than 20 others.
“They can run, they can hide — it won’t help them,” outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement. “We will punish them to the fullest extent of the law.”
A pair of bombs blew up within minutes of each other at bus stops near the entrance to Jerusalem. One detonated near the Central Bus Station, the other at a bus stop by the Ramot Junction known by locals as the “Trempiada.” Police are investigating this as a coordinated terror attack.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi cut short a visit to the US after being briefed on the situation.
Hundreds of people turned came to pay their last respects to Aryeh Shechopak, a 16-year-old Canadian yeshiva student, who was killed while waiting for a ride.
Meanwhile, 24 victims were treated for injuries at Hadassah’s hospitals in Ein Kerem and Mt. Scopus while six were taken to the Shaarei Zedek Medical Centre. One victim — an Ethiopian immigrant in his 40s — is fighting for his life. “He is suffering from a very serious head injury, and his life is in immediate danger,” said the director of Shaarei Zedek’s trauma unit, Dr. Alon Shortz.
The family asked the public to pray for Tedsa ben Mada.
Police continued scouring the area around Jerusalem’s western entrance for additional bombs and searching for the terrorists. Security was beefed up in public areas and the public was urged to remain vigilant.
“We call on the public in Jerusalem and in general, to maintain a full life routine,” a police statement said. “In addition, one must be alert for suspicious objects, suspicious people or any unusual occurrence that requires police treatment and intervention and report it as soon as possible to the police’s 100 hotline.”
The statement also stressed that public gatherings were still secure. The bombing occurred on the day Israel’s Ethiopian community marked the holiday of Sigd. A public event held later in the afternoon went on as scheduled.
American and European Union officials issued statements condemning the terror attack. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad praised the bombing without claiming responsibility.
In Australia, Foreign Minister Penny Wong tweeted: “Australia strongly condemns the twin blasts in Jerusalem. They are acts of cruelty, calculated to kill and terrorise civilians, and to destroy the bonds of trust between neighbours. Our thoughts are with the victims & their families. Australia stands with Israel against terror.
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “We mourn the murder of a child in Israel’s capital, and the injury of so many others, and stand with Israel and all people of goodwill who condemn these terrorist attacks. As Golda Meir said, ‘There will never be peace until Palestinians love their children more than they hate ours.’”
We extend our deepest condolences to the family of 16-year-old Aryeh Shtsupak. Our thoughts are also with all those who were injured.
AIJAC Director of International and of Community Affairs Jeremy Jones said, “AIJAC sends our condolences to the family of Aryeh Shechopek and wishes all of those injured a speedy recovery.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the terrorists who carried out these heinous attacks. The aim of the terrorists is to kill as many innocent people and cause as much misery as possible. They also intend to provoke further violence, causing yet more death and misery, and pushing hopes for peace even further away.
We know that the Israeli security forces will be acting swiftly to track down the killers and to prevent any further attacks. These attacks demonstrate once again the need for the stringent security measures Israel maintains in and around the West Bank.
AIJAC appreciates the prompt condemnation of these attacks and expression of support for the victims and their families, and for Israel, from Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong and Australian Ambassador to Israel Paul Griffiths,” Mr Jones concluded.
