A deadly shooting attack at a crowded bus stop in northern Jerusalem has left five people dead and at least twelve others injured, prompting an emergency response from both Israeli security forces and the government.

The attack occurred shortly after 10:15 a.m. local time at Ramot Junction, a key intersection on the city’s outskirts. According to Israeli police, two armed assailants opened fire on a group of civilians waiting at the bus stop. Witnesses say gunshots also struck a nearby bus, with visible bullet holes seen in the windshield and shattered front doors.

Among the dead are three men in their 30s, a man in his 50s, and a woman in her 50s, who was initially hospitalised in critical condition but later died. Nine gunshot victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, and three others suffered injuries from broken glass.

Police said the attackers were shot dead at the scene by a soldier and armed civilians who responded swiftly. Authorities recovered firearms, ammunition, and a knife believed to have been used in the assault.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have since deployed soldiers to the area and begun a sweep for potential accomplices.

Simultaneously, IDF units encircled areas near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank as part of a broader anti-terror operation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the scene shortly after the incident. Netanyahu addressed the press in Hebrew, vowing a strong response to what he described as a terrorist attack.

No group has yet claimed responsibility, though both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have previously praised such attacks without taking direct credit.

The attack marks one of the deadliest on civilians in Jerusalem in recent months and adds to growing concerns about escalating violence between Israel and armed factions in the West Bank and Gaza.

Erizia Rubyjeana

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