ALGERIA: Al Qaeda claim to be behind suicide truck bomb in Algeria, killing 22 people

Record ID: 356116

  • Title: ALGERIA: Al Qaeda claim to be behind suicide truck bomb in Algeria, killing 22 people
  • Date: 9th September 2007
  • Summary: (W4) DELLYS, ALGERIA (SEPTEMBER 8, 2007) (REUTERS) ROAD OVERLOOKING SITE OF EXPLOSION SITE OF EXPLOSION PEOPLE WATCHING EMERGENCY SERVICES
  • Embargoed: 24th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVAEKB88Y2IW6TEOUAZA5H7YXBLE
  • Story Text: A suicide truck bomber destroyed a coastguard barracks in Algeria on Saturday, killing 22 people, residents and hospital sources said, in the second such attack in the OPEC member country in as many days.
    Al Qaeda's north Africa wing said it was behind two suicide attacks that killed at least 50 people in Algeria in the past two days, Al Jazeera television said on Saturday.
    It said al Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb said in an Internet statement it was behind both Saturday's suicide truck bombing at a coastguard barracks east of Algiers and an attack in the town of Batna less than 48 hours earlier. The television gave no further details.
    The blast in the port of Dellys 100 km (62 miles) east of Algiers happened less than 48 hours after a suicide bombing in Batna town killed 20 people in an attack seen by the government as a bid to wreck efforts to end 15 years of political violence "This morning at 7:45 am we heard an explosion, they told us that a trapped lorry which was transporting foods entered the barracks and exploded, said one wye witness.
    North African countries have recently stepped up security coordination to counter armed groups seeking to establish Islamic rule in a region on Europe's southern flank that depends to a large extent on oil and gas exports and tourism.
    Witnesses said the Dellys explosion wrecked the wooden barracks, damaged several neighbouring houses and sent shockwaves that shattered window panes in nearby streets.
    Soldiers armed with automatic rifles sealed off the immediate vicinity after the attack.
    Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem condemned the blast and said such attacks aimed at wrecking peace efforts in Algeria and thereby targeted all Algerians.
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