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Nigeria World Cup screening hit by deadly bomb blast Nigeria World Cup viewers hit by deadly bomb blast
(35 minutes later)
At least 21 people have been killed in a bomb blast at a venue televising a World Cup match in northern Nigeria, a hospital source has told the BBC. At least 21 people have been killed in a bomb blast in northern Nigeria as they were watching a World Cup match, a hospital source has told the BBC.
Witnesses in Damaturu, in Yobe state, say a suicide bomber in a tricycle taxi detonated explosives as people watched Brazil's match against Mexico. Witnesses in Damaturu, in Yobe state, say a suicide bomber in a tricycle taxi detonated explosives as people watched Brazil's match against Mexico on TV.
At least 27 people are said to be seriously injured. At least 27 people are said to have been seriously injured.
Public screenings of the World Cup in some parts of Nigeria have been cancelled due to threats by Boko Haram. Public screenings of the World Cup in some parts of Nigeria have been banned because of threats by Boko Haram.
Three states, including Yobe, are under a state of emergency amid attacks suspected to have been carried out by the Islamist militants. Three states, including Yobe, are under a government-imposed state of emergency following years of attacks.
No group has said it was behind the latest blast.No group has said it was behind the latest blast.
The hospital worker told the BBC he had personally counted 21 corpses. The local police chief has told the BBC that the attack happened outside a shop with a television, where people had gathered to watch the game.
He said truckloads of injured people were being treated in overcrowded wards after the explosion on Tuesday evening. He said it was not a viewing centre where Nigerians often watch football matches, as these have been banned in the state.
Other sources say it was a viewing centre which was attacked.
While the police say 13 people died, the hospital worker told the BBC he had personally counted 21 bodies.
Correspondents say Nigeria's authorities often downplay the number of casualties.
In another development, the authorities say a senior Boko Haram militant was among almost 500 northerners arrested as they travelled to Nigeria's oil hub of Port Harcourt earlier this week.
The authorities did not name the suspect. Relatives of those arrested say they had no links to Boko Haram and had gone to southern Nigeria for economic reasons.
The Damaturu hospital worker said 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."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.""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".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 was 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. Boko Haram has described football as un-Islamic.
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.
The states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have been under a state of emergency since May 2013. Thousands 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.
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.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.
The states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have been under a state of emergency since May 2013. Thousands have died in the north-east since Boko Haram launched an insurgency in 2009.