Second car bomb explodes in central Jerusalem
A car bomb has exploded in the centre of Jerusalem, not far from the place where a similar bomb went off nine hours earlier.
Police say the bomb was made up of mortar shells, nails and bullets, and that it was the first time such explosives have been used in a car bomb attack.
Some 16 people were slightly injured, most of them suffering from shock. Police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby says two or three people were injured by flying glass.
Police and ambulances raced to the scene, about 100 metres from the Jerusalem police headquarters.
The explosion erupted at the corner of Heshin and Jaffa streets, next to an area called the Russian compound, where Jerusalem magistrates' court and the city's police headquarters are located.
A mortar shell from the car flew into a nearby public square, where officers disarmed it.
Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert told Israel radio that there were apparently other explosives in the area, and he appealed to residents to stay away.
Just after midnight, a large car bomb exploded about 100 metres away, starting a fire but causing no serious injuries.
Palestinian militants took responsibility for the late-night car bomb.
In a faxed message to news agencies, the radical group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said it was targeting a police station to avenge the deaths of "Palestinian martyrs".
