UGANDA: Police say twin attacks during World Cup final were the work of suicide bombers and Pakistanis

Record ID: 352210

  • Title: UGANDA: Police say twin attacks during World Cup final were the work of suicide bombers and Pakistanis
  • Date: 19th July 2010
  • Summary: KAMPALA, UGANDA (JULY 18, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE VIEW OF KALE KAYIHURA, UGANDAN INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE ADDRESSING JOURNALISTS KAYIHURA ADDRESSING JOURNALISTS JOURNALIST LISTENING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uganda
  • Country: Uganda
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA49JPUPJJTC6JRMP89A9O39DMF
  • Story Text: Twin bomb attacks in Uganda that killed 73 people last week were carried out by suicide bombers and Pakistanis were among 20 suspects arrested, the head of police said on Sunday (July 18).
    Somali al Shabaab insurgents linked to al Qaeda have said they carried out the attacks on a restaurant and a rugby club in the capital Kampala while fans watched the World Cup final last Sunday (July 11), but said no suicide bombers were involved.
    "We have reasons to believe that the heads of the two persons or rather the persons whose heads we have and whom we have reconstructed - we are going to present the pictures, reconstructed pictures to you - were involved in the execution of the terrorist attacks in the city last week. There is very, very strong evidence. I can state it here confidently, there is strong evidence that these attacks were carried out by suicide bombers," said Kale Kahiyura, Uganda's police inspector general.
    Al Shabaab said it was avenging the killing of civilians by African Union peacekeepers.
    Ugandan forces form the backbone of the 6,100-strong contingent in Somalia.
    Such co-ordinated attacks have been a hallmark of al Qaeda and groups linked to Osama bin Laden's militant network.
    It was the first time that al Shabaab had carried out an attack beyond the borders of Somalia.
    "These two remains, unlike others, remain unclaimed and unidentified since Sunday. This is now a week. All other bodies and remains of the deceased have been positively identified and claimed by their kin except these two and (of) these two - one was in Kabalagala, (Ethiopian Restaurant) another one was in Kyadondo (Rugby grounds) so that cannot be coincidence," Kahiyura said.
    Analysts said after the bombings that the attack was likely carried out by "foreign elements" in al Shabaab.
    Last week police said they had arrested six of the more than 20 Somalis and Ugandans suspected of planning the bombings.
    Kayihura said on Sunday more than 20 people have now been arrested, including Pakistani nationals. He did not elaborate.
    Uganda, east Africa's third largest economy, attracts billions of dollars of foreign investment, especially in its oil sector and government debt markets. But investors in Uganda and neighbouring Kenya, which shares a porous border with Somalia, often say the threat from Islamic militants is a serious concern.
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