Deadly explosions rock Algerian capital
2007-04-11
In the most violent such attack in years, suicide bombers struck two locations in Algiers on Wednesday morning. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem was an apparent target in one bombing, and has condemned the attacks as "criminal and cowardly".
Lyes Aflou in Algiers contributed to this report -- 11/04/2007
 [Getty Images] The first car bomb targeted the offices of Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem |
Just a day after police raids resulted in multiple explosions in neighbouring Morocco, two bombings rocked the Algerian capital of Algiers. As many as four vehicles rigged with explosives exploded in the city just moments apart, shortly before noon Wednesday (April 11th), leaving dozens dead.
The first bomb targeted a government building in downtown Algiers, and the others a police station in Bab Ezzouar, a neighbourhood east of the capital near the international airport. In a preliminary report, security officials announced a death toll of 30, with as many as 110 injured.
In central Algiers, a car bomb exploded near the offices of Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, killing many police officers and passers-by, and injuring dozens of others. Windows of neighbouring buildings and vehicles parked on the street were shattered by the blast, spraying the area with glass and other debris out to 200 metres. The shredded bodies of victims littered the sidewalks as the first ambulances began to arrive.
The Bab Ezzouar bomb severely damaged a police station and destroyed a power station belonging to electric company Sonelagaz.
The two attacks were nearly simultaneous, occurring at approximately 10:45 local time.
At midday, glass and other debris from the attack still covered the scene in central Algiers, radiating out from the entrance of the massive government building which also houses the interior ministry. One eyewitness said a thick cloud of black smoke billowed out from the site of the violent explosion, and the façade of the Government Palace had buckled outward from the damage.
Upon visiting the site, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem condemned the attacks as "criminal and cowardly, perpetrated at a time when the Algerian people seek national reconciliation".
Abdelkrim Dahmane, a representative of the Society of Peace Movement (MSP), an Islamist party in parliament, spoke out against the attacks in an interview with al-Jazeera, putting them in the same category as the explosions in Casablanca the previous day.
A representative of Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb, formerly the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), claimed responsibility for the bombings in a call to al-Jazeera.
The attack is the worst of its kind Algiers has seen in years. Area resident Yasmina Kabli, walked past the Government Palace just moments before the explosion, and felt the attacks signalled a return to the dark days in Algiers, when bombs routinely interrupted the city's daily life.
Algeria will hold legislative elections on May 17th, and many fear the attacks represent a push by Islamist militants to disrupt the democratic process.
The two attacks came just days after a fierce exchange between the army and an Islamist group on Saturday evening near Ain Defla, west of Algiers, during which nine soldiers were killed. The army is also in the third week of a large-scale cordon and search operation against militants in Bejaia, in the Kabylia region east of the capital.
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Toufik Posted 2007-04-11
The [expletive] will pay one day. They can keep running.
zeghidi Posted 2007-04-11
Listen: when will you stop applying the term 'militants' to terrorists and bombers?! Enough, it's revolting...
Samir Posted 2007-04-12
Another example that shows the nature of Islamist terror which has been exported from Arabia to North Africa. As a Libyan, I suggest full scale peaceful demonstrations in the streets of all cities to condemn such culture of violence!
mimou Posted 2007-04-12
Long live Algeria; these terrorists are all [expletive deleted]. Sorry, it is just anger talking here. How can one kill children, women, innocent people? To these terrorists, go to hell, [expletive deleted]
أمينة Posted 2007-04-12
No to terrorism in Algeria...The one who kills his father can kill any other person...no giving a hand to these criminals
berrached karim Posted 2007-04-12
We can see very good organization on Maghreb soil, which is frightening. Otherwise, it was an unfortunate attack, due to cowardice.
ferrak ouardia Posted 2007-04-12
Too bad for such a nice country. Our people aren't responsible. Why to die, for whom? Why make Islam a bad thing in the name of Allah, Algerian brothers? The people do not deserve this slaughter. The past is behind, future is ahead, with our youth. Let Algeria bloom, it is too nice, it doesn't deserve blood.
مروان Posted 2007-04-12
Terrorists responsible for this destruction were afraid and they don't confront Algerian forces because they're cowards.
Ahmed Posted 2007-04-13
They are criminals. The time has come for Muslims from all over the world to go out in the streets and say no to al-Qaeda, no to terror, no to the use of Islam to spread chaos and fitna. Your silence is assistance. They are pitiless. Go out, condemn and track those rats wherever they may be, in towns, mountains, even mosques. There is no country where these rats rule and make it better. So let's unite to fight them all; let's help security services and the army.
koka Posted 2007-04-15
Who did this? He is a man.
salim Posted 2007-04-15
These explosions weren't for the sake of God, and not for the sake of the nation but in order to satisfy their masters in Al-Qaeda and serve some enemies of the nation that belong to it
aris Posted 2007-04-16
These terrorists are all cowards.
هجيرة Posted 2007-04-17
I'm Hajira from Algeria, I don't think that these people have exploded themselves in the name of God, they hated their lives, they wanted to die and they had an opportunity. People who died are martyrs, and the victims in fact are those who exploded themselves. Another point, for anyone who wants to commit suicide, he should just go and throw himself into the sea and not kill himself and take lives of other people with him. Salam Alaikoum my brothers and sisters.
حقاص هناء Posted 2007-09-08
Hello, I just want to say that it is shameful to do such a thing.
محمد بن الربيع Posted 2007-09-15
Firstly we're people who believe in God the Almighty Who created between us a link. This is why we should be brothers united for God. God guides whom He wills.
ranya ahmed Posted 2007-12-12
Algeria will remain immovable however the terrorists try to intimidate the people and scare them. But all the Algerian people will stand to them with great power as they did in the face of French attacks in the past. The Algerian flag will remain high hovering in the name of peace and freedom. We don’t accept anyone else but Bouteflika as president whatever it costs us, even if all the Algerian people were killed we’ll keep on defending our right to self-determination. So long live Algeria, long live Algeria the country of pride and dignity, the country of two millions and half a million of martyrs. Thanks to Magharebia for informing us about everything that happens. Hope you’ll stay faithful to us.
ش م Posted 2007-12-13
We resort to God and He's the best mandate. We resort to God and He's the best mandate.
YOUSFI Posted 2007-12-13
Long live Algeria!
abedlkader Posted 2007-12-25
I'm one of the objectors to these explosions; I call them bloody....No to reconciliation
عادل Posted 2008-01-03
No to terrorism, death to terrorism the coward. This is what they deserve death and not national reconciliation. You have reconciled them, and what happened, they are still corrupting in the country and killing people. The proof is that many of those who joined the national reconciliation, they returned again to their works and they’re wandering in the country. I know many people who were in the mountains, they came down and they live better than Bouteflika, the gendarme officers how many of them died to control the enemies of God , those who lost their leg lost it, those who lost their sons, how many, and then Bouteflika comes and takes them out of prison on every occasion after you died so that they control them. Read the news well, understand and contemplate. Bouteflika although I know that you’re not going to read what I’m writing, now I’m 18, I hate your forgiveness, your forgive them and they kill us again. We hate we hate we hate that, true you’ve won the people, truly the nation will wake up and will fight terrorism on its own, you will see my words. Death to terrorism, this is what they deserve and the rest is on God. There is no other God but Allah.
momo dvb Posted 2008-01-06
Oh Algerian people, your vanished country is immersed in corruption in the ranks of society, they sowed racism in us.
Anonymous Posted 2008-01-12
I’m Mohamed Salem from Oukroute after hearing the news of the attacks in the news bulletin we all said there is no power and no will but from God. These criminals and killers have betrayed the nation and the people, their fate is to hell inchallah.
kharbat Posted 2008-02-21
Oh Lord grant victory to Islam and Muslims, and destroy terrorism and terrorists.
عبد الحق _حي تنية المخزن _غارداية الجزائر Posted 2008-02-22
What happened in Algeria recently is a terrorist act carried out by a group of lost [Expletive deleted] who don’t have an atom of Islam in their hearts. The sons of [Expletive deleted] and [Expletive deleted], they kill innocence. Whatever they do, Algeria will remain free and faithful.
نورالدين Posted 2008-03-13
You understand nothing. Terrorism kills the old and doesn’t spare the young, so how can we put our hands in theirs?
ابو عبد المؤمن Posted 2008-03-23
What is happening in Algeria is a blind and coward terrorism. Those who pretend or believe that Jihad is legitimate in Algeria, the least that can be said of him is that he is resentful and doesn’t belong to the nation of our master Mohamed, God’s prayer and peace upon him. All their followers and those who support them even slightly should know that God will retaliate for these unarmed innocents who are guilty of nothing but being Algerians, descendants of prince Abdelkader; their cowards and their followers should know that Algeria will resist as long as there are men and women who believe in God and His apostle, and love this nation for the sake of which two million martyrs died. These dregs should know that Jihad in Algeria has ended on 05-07-1962. So long live Algeria, may it live free and independent. Glory and triumph to our faithful martyrs. Allah Akbar (God is greatest) than any oppressor or tyrant.
ali63 Posted 2008-03-28
We are against terrorism which kills everything. We present our condolences to all the families of victims.
مراد Posted 2008-04-02
I will only say one word to the group of traitors. You won’t beat Algeria even if you make an alliance with the devil. There is a saying in our language that says: Algeria will not wear mourning clothes as long as the Special Forces are resolved. Face us if you can.
eminem Posted 2008-06-30
Long live Algeria! I love Algeria! But, what is up with all these massacres? Stop it......... I have so much to say, but my mouth isn’t able to speak. We live in a beautiful country, but the government here is rotten.
صهيب Posted 2008-07-11
Terrorists are like lost, savage, homeless animals that betray their kin. Traitors.
fatima Posted 2008-09-03
The attacks have only caused destruction and agony to everyone including innocents and kids. However, ambiguity is still surrounding the criminals. But it is sure that they aren’t associated with Muslims who call for peace and security and feel the sufferings of others. We can just say God suffices us and He is the best protector.
اسحاق Posted 2008-10-05
Criminality in Algeria is not easy because terrorism is very very difficult. But we fight it with peace and reconciliation. Thank you.
BCIA banque Posted 30 days ago
First of all, stop saying “Long live Algeria!”!!! In order for Algeria to live, the people in charge need to be toppled and that will never happen. Also, stop applauding for just anyone!!! “Free” and “faithful” to what, my friend? Huh? To money laundering? To injustice? You are living in a dreamworld, my friend, and that is the nice way to put it. Greetings to the dead.
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