RABAT (AFP) - An attempted suicide bomb attack in Morocco missed its intended target, a bus-load of foreign tourists, but seriously wounded the suspected bomber, a Moroccan security chief told AFP. The explosion, which occurred in the former imperial town of Meknes in a central square popular with foreign visitors, ripped off the arm of the 30-year-old Moroccan man who was carrying the gas cylinder.None of the tourists in the bus, who included French, Italians and Americans, was hurt. The blast happened at 11:30 am (GMT). "He tried to get in the bus where tourists of several nationalities were staying, but the driver had the presence of mind to close the door in his face," said the security expert.
The bomber, Hicham Dokkali, was an engineer who worked in the tax office in Meknes, he added. Witnesses had seen the bomber talking to two other people shortly before the attack, he added. Police said they were searching for the two other men seen with him.
The state-run MAP news agency reported earlier that the alleged attacker "headed towards the bus but was unable to reach it because of the driver's vigilance."
| Good job, Mr. Driver! |
| Shrapnel in the gut? Shrapnel in the brain? Maybe burns. Ouch. And he'll be known as 'Lefty' to his comrades in prison. |