BOMB ATTACK IN JERUSALEM – AT 9:53 A.M. ET:  There has been a bombing in Jerusalem, leading to immediate fears that the simmering conflict between Israelis and Palestinians will escalate again:

JERUSALEM (AP) — A bomb exploded at a crowded bus stop Wednesday in central Jerusalem, wounding at least 25 people in what appeared to be the first militant attack in the city in several years.

The blast could be heard throughout Jerusalem and blew out the windows of two crowded buses.

Rescuers were seen removing bloodied people from the area on stretchers.

Israel's national rescue service said 25 people were wounded, including 15 seriously. No deaths were reported.

Meir Hagid, one of the bus drivers, said he heard a loud explosion as he drove by the site, located near the main entrance to Jerusalem and its central bus station.

"I heard the explosion in the bus stop," he said. He halted his vehicle and people got off. He said nobody in his bus was hurt.

COMMENT:  In recent days there's been an escalation of violence between Hamas, which runs Gaza, and Israel.  This incident will not help.

One thing to always be concerned about in attacks like this is the possibility of a copycat bombing...anywhere in the world, including here.  Those who attempted to blow up an airliner over Detroit, or to set off a car bomb in Times Square, got their inspiration from others.  Many terror experts have expressed amazement that we haven't had a Jerusalem-style bombing here.  We hope our luck continues, but we can never count on luck.

March 23, 2011