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The book’s account of the 1978 bus bombing
A news report from that week counts six dead and 19 injured from a terrorist bomb, and says police made arrests.
Updated Friday, October 23, 2026
90 Seconds says “a terrorist blew himself up inside the crowded bus, killing, wounding, and maiming dozens of innocent people.”
A news report from that week counts six dead and 19 injured from a terrorist bomb, and says police made arrests.
The book is sold to donors as true history. The facts of that day should match the record.
The proof
Their statement: 90 Seconds (ArtScroll, 2023), Chapter One, “The Kid From Bayit Vegan” (opening page of the publisher’s posted excerpt), says: “a terrorist blew himself up inside the crowded bus, killing, wounding, and maiming dozens of innocent people.”
The record: JTA’s report from June 5, 1978 describes a “terrorist bomb” on the No. 12 bus on Friday, June 2, 1978, with six dead and 19 injured, and says police had made several arrests.
Which is it? The book says a terrorist blew himself up and dozens were hurt; the report from the time gives 6 dead and 19 injured. The victims of that attack deserve an accurate account. Which is it?
Sources
Research file(s): books/90-seconds/artscroll-samples/NSECH-ex-1 (ArtScroll-posted excerpt) · Check status: Checked 2 ways ✓ (see How we checked)