Eyewitness: Bus bomb scene

By Jeremy Cooke BBC correspondent in Jerusalem

I am standing looking at the bus, which has been badly damaged in the explosion.

The bomber blew himself up alongside the driver

The windows are blown out and the bus itself has rolled backwards off the road at the point of the explosion, down onto the siding.

The emergency services are still here, going through the bus.

There are people collecting the body parts of the victims, as they always do when these explosions happen.

We have just had a briefing from the Israeli police, who say they think that the bomber was dressed as a religious Jew and that is how he managed to get onto the bus undetected.

Immediately he got to the point where the driver takes the fares from passengers the explosion happened and as a result, so we are told, at least seven people have been killed and as many as 20 injured.

Second blast

The police say that, soon after the explosion here, a short distance away another explosion occurred.

Once again it appears that the merest hint of a diplomatic breakthrough triggers more violence and more bloodshed on the streets

That was a result of another what they consider would-be suicide bomber who was caught in the immediate security clampdown which followed the explosion.

What we appear to be seeing this morning is the response of the extremist organisations to the meeting between Ariel Sharon and Abu Mazen last night.

Once again it appears that the merest hint of a diplomatic breakthrough triggers more violence and more bloodshed on the streets.