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| Africa Subsaharan |
| 'Somalia link' as lethal Uganda blasts target World Cup |
| 2010-07-12 |
| At least 64 people have died in two blasts in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. Some 70 others were injured by the explosions, which hit a rugby club and an Ethiopian restaurant as football fans watched the World Cup final. Police were investigating whether the blasts were suicide bombings, and blamed Somalia's al-Shabab militants. Ugandan peacekeepers operate in Mogadishu, Somalia, and al-Shabab - linked to al-Qaeda - has threatened to hit Kampala in the past. About 5,000 African Union troops from Uganda and Burundi are based in Mogadishu to protect the fragile interim government. The African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) force is engaged in frequent firefights with Islamist insurgents which control much of southern and central Somalia. Obama 'deeply saddened' The explosions, about 10km (seven miles) apart, both caused death and injury, although many more people died at the crowded rugby club. Some 49 people died there as they watched the World Cup on a large screen, police said. Another 15 were killed at the Ethiopian Village. "These bombs were definitely targeting World Cup crowds," Insp Gen Kale Kayihura said, warning people to stay away from large crowds in the coming days. The explosions ripped through the venues with about 10 minutes remaining in Sunday night's match. At both scenes chairs lay overturned, with blood and pieces of flesh on the floor. One unnamed witness told the BBC how he was caught in the rugby club blast. "I just heard the bomb. In fact, I was blacked out, I didn't know anything. I was just down on the grass, I didn't know anything until when I gained consciousness, then I started now, crawling, coming out." Many - if not most - of those killed and injured were foreign nationals, with both venues popular destinations for expatriates living in Kampala. One was an American, reported to be an aid worker from California. However, the crowd at the rugby club was usually a mix of Ugandans and foreigners, the police chief said. There were reports that a severed head was found at one of the scenes, leading investigators to suggest that the attacks could have been the work of suicide bombers. Insp Gen Kayihura said he believed Somalia's militant group al-Shabab could be behind Sunday evening's attacks. In particular, the attack on the Ethiopian-owned restaurant raised suspicions of al-Shabab involvement: Addis Ababa backs Somalia's government against the rebels. Somali militants have been involved in terror attacks across East Africa in the past, but - if proven - this would be the first time the current group has struck outside Somalia. But the BBC's Will Ross, in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, says there is no proof as yet that al-Shabab was involved. The blasts could be linked to next year's elections in Uganda, our correspondent adds. In Mogadishu, a militant commander said he was "happy" with the attacks in Uganda. However, Sheik Yusuf Sheik Issa refused to confirm or deny that al-Shabab was responsible. He told the Associated Press news agency: "Uganda is one of our enemies. Whatever makes them cry, makes us happy. May Allah's anger be upon those who are against us." At least three Americans, members of a Church group from Pennsylvania, were wounded at the Ethiopian restaurant. One, Kris Sledge, 18, said from his hospital bed: "I remember blacking out, hearing people screaming and running." Mr Sledge, of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, who had a bandaged leg and burns on his face, told AP: "I love the place here, but I'm wondering why this happened and who did this. At this point we're just glad to be alive." US President Barack Obama said the explosions were "deplorable and cowardly". Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US would work with the Ugandan government "to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice". The US embassy in Kampala has confirmed that one American was among the dead. "The nationalities of all the fatalities will be released later," said police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #10 Death toll is repor up to 74. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-07-12 23:40 |
| #9 From the First Reports Are Often Wrong File - NO Americans were killed. The women identified as an AmCit was later id'd as an Irish national. RIP to the victims. No positive id on the headless horsemen but appear to be sub-Saharan African and Somali. Smart money is on Al-Shabab. |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2010-07-12 15:22 |
| #8 The bombers obviously suffer from poor self-esteem. What a shame NASA wasn't available to remind them of the glories of muslim science. With the death toll heading towards 70, their "science" seems to be doing just fine. Too bad they can't find anything to do with it except kill people. |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2010-07-12 14:39 |
| #7 You mean "Jihadis", TW. Correction accepted, dear Parabellum. I hadn't yet any tea. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-07-12 11:59 |
| #6 In concert with the Administration, the suicide perpetrators were stock manipulators just trying to make some money, albeit illegally. |
| Posted by: Hammerhead 2010-07-12 11:23 |
| #5 You mean "Jihadis", TW. |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2010-07-12 08:21 |
| #4 This morning the news said it was Al Qaeda, although I'm not sure the pretty people reading the news actually understood that as a specific group rather than the current term for "Islamic terrorists". |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-07-12 08:05 |
| #3 The bombers obviously suffer from poor self-esteem. What a shame NASA wasn't available to remind them of the glories of muslim science. |
| Posted by: lex 2010-07-12 07:32 |
| #2 Surprise, surprise. |
| Posted by: lex 2010-07-12 07:29 |
| #1 Ignore the elephant in the room |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2010-07-12 07:00 |