Five Israelis killed, several others injured in Jerusalem bus shooting

At least five people were killed and seven others critically injured in a shooting carried out by unknown men in Jerusalem, according to media reports.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service said the victims included three men in their 30s, a woman in her 50s and a man in his 50s.

Nine people with gunshot wounds were transported to nearby hospitals, while three others sustained injuries from shattered glass.

Police said that two attackers opened fire at a bus stop near Ramot Junction, on the northern edge of the city. A security guard and a civilian shot back and killed the armed men.

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No group immediately claimed responsibility, while speculation circulated in Israeli media that the attack was carried out by Hamas.

According to Reuters, Hamas hailed the attackers as Palestinian resistance fighters.

Israeli police claimed that the attackers had come from the West Bank, following which authorities cordoned off Palestinian villages in East Jerusalem and sealed all checkpoints.

Authorities said the area was quickly cordoned off as bomb disposal experts inspected the site and forensic teams collected evidence. The Israeli military confirmed that soldiers had been deployed to assist police in searches for any additional suspects.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed on the situation and held consultations with senior security officials, his office said.