Algeria

Two bomb blasts kill 13 near Algiers

Article published on the 2008-06-09 Latest update 2008-06-09 15:26 TU

Algiers, after UN offices were attacked in December, 2007.
(Photo : AFP)

Two bombs exploded, one after the other, killing thirteen near Boumerdes, Algeria, Sunday afternoon. The first bomb detonated as a French engineer and his driver left work, while the second detonated not long afterwards, killing those who had rushed to their aid.

The engineer was working at the Beni Amrane rail station, 80 km east of Algiers, for the French engineering firm Razel. He was mortally wounded along with his driver, when his car struck a bomb planted near the Razel offices, though RFI has learned that two other passengers in the vehicle were unharmed.

The second bomb exploded approximately 15 minutes later, killing aid workers and police who had arrived on the scene.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned the attacks in a message sent to his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Boutefika late Sunday. Sarkozy wrote that Algeria has his "unwavering support in the determined struggle against terrorism."

Sunday’s attack capped off a bloody week for Algeria, which has experienced five deadly attacks since in five days.

The one-two bomb attack strategy has also been employed in the region before, notably on 1 June when a police station near the capital was attacked in the same fashion.

It’s the second time a French national has been targeted with bomb attacks in Algeria since September 2007 when a French and an Italian engineer - also working for Razel - were killed in a similar fashion.

No one has claimed responsibility for Sunday's attacks, but all the other explosions last week were carried out by al Qaeda in the Maghreb, an organisation that operates frequently in the region.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told RFI that French and Algerian services are working together to apprehend those responsible.

“This last attack that killed a French person hasn't been claimed by al Qaeda in the Maghreb. [But] al Qaeda in the Maghreb is under intense surveillance by all the [intelligence] services in the region,” Kouchner said.