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Nigeria World Cup screening hit by deadly bomb blast | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
At least 13 people have been killed in a bomb blast at a venue televising a World Cup match in northern Nigeria, medics say. | |
Witnesses in Damaturu, in Yobe state, say a suicide bomber in a tricycle taxi detonated explosives as people watched Brazil's match against Mexico. | |
At least 20 people are said to be seriously injured. | |
Public screenings of World Cup matches elsewhere in Nigeria have been cancelled due to threats by Boko Haram. | |
Three areas, including Yobe, are under a state of emergency amid attacks suspected to have been carried out by the Islamist militants. | |
No group has taken responsibility for the latest blast. | |
A hospital worker told the BBC that truckloads of injured people were being treated in overcrowded wards after the explosion on Tuesday evening. | |
"The military and police trucks that brought them in have made four return trips so far ferrying them in," the worker said. | |
"Every single truck was full of the injured. And all of them are young men or children." | |
The worker said that the injuries suffered by people caught up in the blast were "horrific". | |
Damaturu resident Mohammed Kurkure Yobe told the BBC that the venue where the attack took place is very popular and often crowded with people watching big events. | Damaturu resident Mohammed Kurkure Yobe told the BBC that the venue where the attack took place is very popular and often crowded with people watching big events. |
'Football un-Islamic' | 'Football un-Islamic' |
Open-air viewing centres - where people pay to watch live football - are popular throughout Nigeria. | Open-air viewing centres - where people pay to watch live football - are popular throughout Nigeria. |
However, the Nigerian authorities have warned residents in some states to avoid public screenings of the World Cup, fearing militant attacks. | However, the Nigerian authorities have warned residents in some states to avoid public screenings of the World Cup, fearing militant attacks. |
On Thursday, the north-eastern state of Adamawa ordered all venues planning to show live coverage of the football tournament to close, saying they had received intelligence of planned bomb attacks. | On Thursday, the north-eastern state of Adamawa ordered all venues planning to show live coverage of the football tournament to close, saying they had received intelligence of planned bomb attacks. |
The states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have been under a state of emergency since May 2013. At least 2,000 people have died in the north-east since Boko Haram launched an insurgency in 2009. | The states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have been under a state of emergency since May 2013. At least 2,000 people have died in the north-east since Boko Haram launched an insurgency in 2009. |
Analysts say Islamist militant groups, including Boko Haram, have described football as un-Islamic. | Analysts say Islamist militant groups, including Boko Haram, have described football as un-Islamic. |
On 1 June at least 14 people were killed in a bomb attack on a bar in Adamawa that was screening a televised football match. No group claimed responsibility for the blast. | On 1 June at least 14 people were killed in a bomb attack on a bar in Adamawa that was screening a televised football match. No group claimed responsibility for the blast. |
In March, many people were also killed in explosions while watching football in a video hall in Borno's Maiduguri town. On both occasions, Boko Haram was blamed for the blasts. | |
Boko Haram - which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language - wants to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. | Boko Haram - which means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language - wants to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. |
The group captured international attention in April after it abducted more than 200 girls in Chibok in Borno state. | The group captured international attention in April after it abducted more than 200 girls in Chibok in Borno state. |
It is also suspected of killing at least 29 students in an attack on a boarding school in Yobe in February. | It is also suspected of killing at least 29 students in an attack on a boarding school in Yobe in February. |