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Al-Shabab 'behind' Uganda blasts | Al-Shabab 'behind' Uganda blasts |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab has said it was behind twin blasts which hit the Ugandan capital Kampala on Sunday, killing 74 people. | The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab has said it was behind twin blasts which hit the Ugandan capital Kampala on Sunday, killing 74 people. |
In a statement in Mogadishu, spokesman for the group Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage threatened more attacks. | |
Police said the bombings targeted football fans watching the World Cup final. | Police said the bombings targeted football fans watching the World Cup final. |
A Ugandan official said a Somali's head was found at the scene of one blast, and he may have been a suicide bomber. | A Ugandan official said a Somali's head was found at the scene of one blast, and he may have been a suicide bomber. |
Ugandan peacekeepers are in Somalia, and al-Shabab has previously threatened Kampala. | Ugandan peacekeepers are in Somalia, and al-Shabab has previously threatened Kampala. |
"Al-Shabab was behind the two bomb blasts in Uganda," Ali Mohamud Rage said. | "Al-Shabab was behind the two bomb blasts in Uganda," Ali Mohamud Rage said. |
"We thank the mujahideen that carried out the attack. We are sending a message to Uganda and Burundi, if they do not take out their Amisom [African Union Mission in Somalia] troops from Somalia, blasts will continue and it will happen in Bujumbura [the Burundi capital] too." | "We thank the mujahideen that carried out the attack. We are sending a message to Uganda and Burundi, if they do not take out their Amisom [African Union Mission in Somalia] troops from Somalia, blasts will continue and it will happen in Bujumbura [the Burundi capital] too." |
The explosions, which also injured about 70 people, ripped through a rugby club and an Ethiopian restaurant as football fans watched the last few minutes of the World Cup final. | The explosions, which also injured about 70 people, ripped through a rugby club and an Ethiopian restaurant as football fans watched the last few minutes of the World Cup final. |
Foreigners killed | Foreigners killed |
The deadliest of the blasts was at the crowded rugby club. At both locations chairs lay overturned, with blood and body parts on the floor. | |
A government spokesman said on Monday that at least 60 Ugandans were killed in the explosions. | |
Fred Opolot, quoted by the Reuters news agency, said an Irish woman was among those who died at the restaurant. | Fred Opolot, quoted by the Reuters news agency, said an Irish woman was among those who died at the restaurant. |
California-based aid group Invisible Children, which helps child soldiers, said one of its workers, Nate Henn, 25, was among those killed at the rugby club. | |
Officials said the dead and wounded also included Ethiopian, Eritrean, Indian and Congolese nationals. | Officials said the dead and wounded also included Ethiopian, Eritrean, Indian and Congolese nationals. |
Mr Opolot added that the other victims had not yet been identified. | |
Aware of threat | Aware of threat |
Ugandan Internal Affairs Minister Matia Kasaija told the BBC World Today programme that the severed head of a person from Somalia had been identified at the scene of one blast. | Ugandan Internal Affairs Minister Matia Kasaija told the BBC World Today programme that the severed head of a person from Somalia had been identified at the scene of one blast. |
He said Uganda had been aware of the threat, but had been caught off-guard. | He said Uganda had been aware of the threat, but had been caught off-guard. |
About 5,000 African Union troops from Uganda and Burundi are based in Mogadishu, propping up the fragile interim government. | About 5,000 African Union troops from Uganda and Burundi are based in Mogadishu, propping up the fragile interim government. |
The Amisom force is engaged in frequent firefights with the Islamist insurgents that control much of southern and central Somalia. | The Amisom force is engaged in frequent firefights with the Islamist insurgents that control much of southern and central Somalia. |
American dead | American dead |
The attack on the Ethiopian restaurant also fits in with al-Shabab's regional policy. | The attack on the Ethiopian restaurant also fits in with al-Shabab's regional policy. |
Addis Ababa backs Somalia's government against the rebels. And Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia in 2006 to oust an Islamist movement, stoking an insurgency that still rages. | Addis Ababa backs Somalia's government against the rebels. And Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia in 2006 to oust an Islamist movement, stoking an insurgency that still rages. |
BBC East Africa correspondent Peter Greste says security services across the region will now be reassessing how they can protect themselves from a force that has proven itself willing and capable of striking outside Somalia's borders. | BBC East Africa correspondent Peter Greste says security services across the region will now be reassessing how they can protect themselves from a force that has proven itself willing and capable of striking outside Somalia's borders. |
Many - if not most - of those killed and injured in the Kampala blasts were foreign nationals. Both venues are popular destinations for expatriates living in the capital. | Many - if not most - of those killed and injured in the Kampala blasts were foreign nationals. Both venues are popular destinations for expatriates living in the capital. |
One unnamed witness told the BBC how he was caught in the rugby club blast. | One unnamed witness told the BBC how he was caught in the rugby club blast. |
"I just heard the bomb. In fact, I blacked out... when I gained consciousness, then I started now, crawling, coming out," he said. | "I just heard the bomb. In fact, I blacked out... when I gained consciousness, then I started now, crawling, coming out," he said. |
At least three Americans, members of a Church group from Pennsylvania, were wounded at the Ethiopian restaurant. | At least three Americans, members of a Church group from Pennsylvania, were wounded at the Ethiopian restaurant. |
One, Kris Sledge, 18, of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, said from his hospital bed: "I remember blacking out, hearing people screaming and running." | One, Kris Sledge, 18, of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, said from his hospital bed: "I remember blacking out, hearing people screaming and running." |
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni criticised the attackers and said his country would not "run away" from its commitments in Mogadishu. | Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni criticised the attackers and said his country would not "run away" from its commitments in Mogadishu. |
"People who are watching football are not people who should be targeted. If they [attackers] want a fight, they should go and look for soldiers." | "People who are watching football are not people who should be targeted. If they [attackers] want a fight, they should go and look for soldiers." |
US President Barack Obama said the explosions were "deplorable and cowardly". | US President Barack Obama said the explosions were "deplorable and cowardly". |
The African Union has said the attacks will not affect its summit, which is due to be held in Kampala later this month. | The African Union has said the attacks will not affect its summit, which is due to be held in Kampala later this month. |
Are you in Kampala? Did you witness the explosions? Send us your eyewitness accounts using the form below. | Are you in Kampala? Did you witness the explosions? Send us your eyewitness accounts using the form below. |