Dozens injured in Jerusalem bus explosion

A bus has exploded in the heart of Jerusalem, wounding at least 16 people. Early reports from Israeli media said the blast took place on Hebron Road, near the Patt junction.

Police say the bus that blew up was empty at the time, but dozens of people were injured on an adjacent bus.

"A bus travelling from southern Jerusalem reached Moshe Baram street," a police statement said.

"There was apparently an explosion and the bus started burning. Another bus nearby and a private car were also hit."

Images show fire and large plumes of smoke billowing from the back of the vehicle.

An AFP news agency journalist at the scene said one bus was completely burnt out while another was partially burned, with a large contingent of firefighters battling to extinguish the blaze.

The Magen David Adom rescue service says two people are in critical condition.

It is not known what caused the explosion but local media reports said police had called the incident "a terror attack", which they believed to have been caused by an explosive device not a suicide bomber, before later saying all causes were being investigated.

The blast comes amid a wave of violence in the region.

Over the past seven months 28 Israelis and two Americans have been killed in Palestinian attacks.

In the same period, at least 189 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, more than 40 of them under the age of 18.