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Dozens killed in Algeria bombings 'Dozens killed' in Algeria blasts
(about 1 hour later)
At least 62 people have died in two bomb blasts in the Algerian capital, Algiers, officials have said. The Algerian capital, Algiers, has been rocked by two deadly bomb attacks, on the country's Constitutional Council and the offices of the United Nations.
The first explosion blew apart a bus packed with students in the Ben Aknoun district, near the Supreme Court. Medical officials have said more than 60 people were killed, but Algeria's Interior Minister, Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni, has only confirmed 22 deaths.
That was followed shortly afterwards by a second blast at the United Nations offices in the Hydra neighbourhood. At least 13 UN staff members are missing. The bombs were the latest in a series of attacks in Algeria this year.
Throughout 2007 there have been a series of bomb attacks across Algeria in which scores of people have died. No group has admitted responsibility, but Mr Zerhouni has blamed a militant Islamist group linked to al-Qaeda.
No group has yet admitted responsibility for Tuesday's attacks, but correspondents say the manner of the bombings and choice of targets suggest the involvement of the North African branch of al-Qaeda. A recently-arrested militant had revealed that the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) had planned several months ago to attack one of Tuesday's targets, Mr Zerhouni said.
BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner says the manner of the bombings and choice of targets suggest the involvement of the group, which is now known as al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb.
I would like to condemn it in the strongest terms - it cannot be justified in any circumstances UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon In pictures: Algiers blastsAlgeria's shifting violenceI would like to condemn it in the strongest terms - it cannot be justified in any circumstances UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon In pictures: Algiers blastsAlgeria's shifting violence
Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem called off a cabinet meeting to visit hospitals where the injured were being treated. Earlier, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem called off a cabinet meeting to visit hospitals where the injured were being treated.
"These are crimes that targeted innocent people. Students and school children were among the victims. Nothing can justify the crime," he said."These are crimes that targeted innocent people. Students and school children were among the victims. Nothing can justify the crime," he said.
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the bombings, saying they were "just unacceptable".The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the bombings, saying they were "just unacceptable".
"I would like to condemn it in the strongest terms. It cannot be justified in any circumstances," he told reporters."I would like to condemn it in the strongest terms. It cannot be justified in any circumstances," he told reporters.
Map showing bomb blast locations Map showing bomb blast locations
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, whose staff were caught in the blast, told the BBC that he had "no doubt that the UN was targeted".The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, whose staff were caught in the blast, told the BBC that he had "no doubt that the UN was targeted".
The US government called the attacks an act of "senseless violence" on the innocent by the "enemies of humanity".The US government called the attacks an act of "senseless violence" on the innocent by the "enemies of humanity".
Students killedStudents killed
In the attack near the court, a bus packed with university students was passing by the vehicle containing the bomb when it exploded at around 0930 (0830 GMT). In the attack near the Constitutional Council, a bus packed with students was passing by when the vehicle containing the bomb exploded at around 0930 (0830 GMT).
Witness: 'Everything fell'Profile: Al-Qaeda in N AfricaWitness: 'Everything fell'Profile: Al-Qaeda in N Africa
Security officials said the bus took the full force of the blast and was ripped apart, killing and injuring many of those on board.Security officials said the bus took the full force of the blast and was ripped apart, killing and injuring many of those on board.
At the UN offices in Hydra, it was the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) building which bore the brunt of the blast. A residential building and the UNHCR headquarters across the road were also damaged, witnesses said. At the UN offices in Hydra, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) building bore the brunt of the blast. A residential building and the UNHCR headquarters across the road were also damaged, witnesses said.
Sophie Haspeslagh, who works for the UNDP, told the BBC that she was in a corridor when the blast occurred.Sophie Haspeslagh, who works for the UNDP, told the BBC that she was in a corridor when the blast occurred.
"Everything shattered. Everything fell. I hid under a piece of furniture so I wouldn't be hit by the debris," she said."Everything shattered. Everything fell. I hid under a piece of furniture so I wouldn't be hit by the debris," she said.
"I was holding my jacket on my face because I couldn't breathe.""I was holding my jacket on my face because I couldn't breathe."
Ms Haspeslagh said a large part of the UNDP building was destroyed and it was feared people were trapped inside.Ms Haspeslagh said a large part of the UNDP building was destroyed and it was feared people were trapped inside.
A spokesman for the UNDP, Jean Fabre, said at least 12 UN staff members were missing, while the UNHCR said one of its drivers had been killed and another was missing.A spokesman for the UNDP, Jean Fabre, said at least 12 UN staff members were missing, while the UNHCR said one of its drivers had been killed and another was missing.
However, Algerian Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said no UN personnel had been among the 12 dead bodies so far recovered in Hydra.
'Suicide bomber''Suicide bomber'
Algerian Interior Minister Yazid Zerhouni said the explosions had been caused by two car bombs, and that the one at the UN was triggered by a suicide bomber. Earlier, Mr Zerhouni said the explosions had been caused by two car bombs, and that the one at the UN was triggered by a suicide bomber.
A bus full of university students was ripped apart in the court bombingA bus full of university students was ripped apart in the court bombing
Ms Haspeslagh said one of her colleagues had seen a white van drive into the main UN offices then explode.Ms Haspeslagh said one of her colleagues had seen a white van drive into the main UN offices then explode.
There has been no claim of responsibility.
There have been a series of bomb attacks across Algeria during the past year in which scores of people have died.There have been a series of bomb attacks across Algeria during the past year in which scores of people have died.
In September more than 50 people were killed in suicide attacks - one of them involved a truck packed with explosives being driven into a coast-guard base.In September more than 50 people were killed in suicide attacks - one of them involved a truck packed with explosives being driven into a coast-guard base.
Al-Qaeda link?Al-Qaeda link?
Members of the public have recently held rallies in protest at the upsurge in violence.Members of the public have recently held rallies in protest at the upsurge in violence.
VIOLENCE IN 2007 6 September: 22 die in bombing in Batna claimed by al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb8 September: 32 die in bombing in Dellys claimed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic MaghrebJuly: Suicide bomber targets barracks near Bouira, killing nineMay: Dozens killed in run-up to elections, in fighting between military and militantsApril: 33 killed in Algiers in attacks claimed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic MaghrebMarch: Three Algerians and a Russian killed in attack on gas pipeline workersFebruary: Seven bombs kill six east of AlgiersVIOLENCE IN 2007 6 September: 22 die in bombing in Batna claimed by al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb8 September: 32 die in bombing in Dellys claimed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic MaghrebJuly: Suicide bomber targets barracks near Bouira, killing nineMay: Dozens killed in run-up to elections, in fighting between military and militantsApril: 33 killed in Algiers in attacks claimed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic MaghrebMarch: Three Algerians and a Russian killed in attack on gas pipeline workersFebruary: Seven bombs kill six east of Algiers
Many of the recent blasts have been claimed by members of al-Qaeda's North Africa wing, calling themselves al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, including a triple suicide bombing in Algiers in April which killed 33 people. Many of the recent blasts have been claimed by members of al-Qaeda's North Africa wing, calling themselves al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM), including a triple suicide bombing in Algiers in April which killed 33 people.
The militant group was previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) but changed its name when it joined forces with al-Qaeda last year. The militant group was previously known as the GSPC, but changed its name when it reportedly joined forces with al-Qaeda last year.
BBC regional analyst Roger Hardy says it is unclear how far the group really is linked to Osama Bin Laden's organisation, and how far it is merely inspired by it.BBC regional analyst Roger Hardy says it is unclear how far the group really is linked to Osama Bin Laden's organisation, and how far it is merely inspired by it.
What is worrying Western experts and North African governments is the possibility that radical Islamists in the region no longer have a merely local agenda but are linked to a wider web of international networks.What is worrying Western experts and North African governments is the possibility that radical Islamists in the region no longer have a merely local agenda but are linked to a wider web of international networks.
Algeria suffered a brutal and bloody civil war in the 1990s, but in recent years violence had declined.Algeria suffered a brutal and bloody civil war in the 1990s, but in recent years violence had declined.
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