Algeria

Twin car bombings hit hotel

Article published on the 2008-08-20 Latest update 2008-08-20 10:28 TU

The scene of the attack.
(Photo : Reuters)

At least eleven people have been killed by twin bombs that hit a hotel and a barracks in Bouira, south east of the Algerian capital, Algiers, according to state media. Witnesses say the blasts went off in quick succession. The attacks came one day after a car bomb killed 43 people and injured a further 38 at a police college near Boumerdes, east of Algiers.

Algeria has suffered frequent bomb attacks blamed on Islamist insurgents linked to Al-Qaeda - many of which have been concentrated in the east and south of the country.

The bombs went off in front of the Hotel Sophie and the military headquarters in Bouira, which is about 120km from Algiers, according to reports.

Many of the victims were university graduates waiting outside to take an entry exam with the aim of joining the paramilitary police force.

Al-Qaeda has claimed previous attacks in Algeria and Morocco, but officials gave no indication who was behind Tuesday's strike.

It was the deadliest attack this year in Algeria and worse than the December 2007 attacks in Algiers against government and United Nations buildings, which killed 41 people and injured many others.

Those attacks were claimed by the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), an Algeria-based group which last year declared allegiance to Al-Qaeda and renamed itself Al-Qaeda's Branch in the Islamic Maghreb.