Three people killed and several injured in Jerusalem bus stop shooting
Two attackers have opened fire at a bus stop near the entrance to Jerusalem, killing at least three people and injuring eight others, according to Israeli authorities.
The shooting was carried out by two Palestinians during morning rush hour on Thursday, Israeli police said, adding that the two attackers have been killed.
"The terrorists arrived at the scene by car in the morning, armed with an M-16 rifle and a handgun," police said. "The terrorists began shooting at civilians before subsequently being killed at the scene."
A woman, 24, and two elderly people have died, Israel's foreign ministry wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
"The death toll has risen to three including two elderly victims," the ministry said. "A horrific morning here in Jerusalem. May the memory of the victims be a blessing."
Jerusalem's deputy mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum told Sky News a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s were killed. The two gunmen were shot dead by "regular people on the street", she added.
The two shooters in Jerusalem are members of Hamas and were residents in East Jerusalem, Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said.
"These are apparently Hamas operatives, who speak here with two voices, one voice of a so-called cease-fire and a second voice of terror," he told reporters at the scene of the attack.
The shooters were stopped by off-duty soldiers and another civilian who was nearby, police said.
Security camera footage aired by Israel's Channel 12 television showed the moments of the attack. A white car is seen stopped beside a crowded bus stop.
Two men then step out, guns drawn, and run at the crowd as people scatter. Shortly afterwards the Palestinian attackers are gunned down.
"This attack is further proof for our commitment to continue fighting with strength and determination against the murderous terrorism that threatens our citizens," cabinet minister Benny Gantz wrote on social media platform X.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was visiting Tel Aviv, said Thursday's shooting was a reminder "of the threat from terrorism that Israel and Israelis face every single day ... My heart goes out to the victims of this attack."
A large number of ambulances and police converged on the street that was crowded with morning commuters, and police said they were searching the area to make sure there were no other attackers.
The US ambassador to Israel condemned the shooting.
"Abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning. We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence," said Ambassador Jack Lew.
The violence came as Israel and Hamas struck a last-minute agreement on Thursday to extend their six-day ceasefire in Gaza by one more day to allow negotiators to keep working on deals to swap hostages held in the coastal enclave for Palestinian prisoners.