US consulate warns Americans: Jerusalem attack different from previous ones

The US consulate in Jerusalem has issued a warning to US citizens in Israel to maintain awareness due to the security situation in Israel and be mindful of suspicious activity.

“Today’s incident differs from recent attacks, potentially demonstrating low-level coordination to attack a pre-identified soft target as opposed to an opportunistic random act of violence,” the consulate says in a statement. “While we cannot predict where and when attacks may take place, we have consistently seen a cycle of violence in East Jerusalem neighborhoods following incidents like the one today.

“The current dynamic security environment underscores the importance of situational awareness, especially in crowded public places that may have minimal overt police presence.”