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Abuja blast 'hits' Nigeria police headquarters | Abuja blast 'hits' Nigeria police headquarters |
(40 minutes later) | |
A powerful explosion has hit the Nigerian police headquarters in the capital, Abuja, officials say. | A powerful explosion has hit the Nigerian police headquarters in the capital, Abuja, officials say. |
"The police force headquarters has been bombed, everywhere is bombed," deputy police spokesman Yemi Ajayi told AFP. | "The police force headquarters has been bombed, everywhere is bombed," deputy police spokesman Yemi Ajayi told AFP. |
An emergency official told Reuters news agency that a suspected suicide bomber had died in the explosion. | |
A large plume of smoke can be seen rising from near the building. No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack. | |
However, Islamist group Boko Haram has recently been targeting police and government officials. | However, Islamist group Boko Haram has recently been targeting police and government officials. |
The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Lagos says for the Nigerian authorities the attack is an embarrassing strike at the very heart of their security establishment. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Lagos says for the Nigerian authorities the attack is an embarrassing strike at the very heart of their security establishment. |
"A suicide bomber died in the incident and many vehicles were destroyed," a spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency said. | |
Residents say the explosion was heard across the city. | Residents say the explosion was heard across the city. |
"My windows were shaking and I heard the loud noise. I saw smoke coming up. I think it was from the car park of the police station," Reuters quotes one witness as telling a local television station. | |
An eyewitness told the BBC Hausa Service that he heard two explosions and saw more than 30 dead bodies and about 40 vehicles destroyed by the explosions. | |
Inauguration bombing | |
Most of Boko Haram's attacks have been in the northern city of Maiduguri. | Most of Boko Haram's attacks have been in the northern city of Maiduguri. |
But the group said it was behind a series of bombings that took place hours after President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration last month. | But the group said it was behind a series of bombings that took place hours after President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration last month. |
The group accuses Nigeria's government of being corrupted by Western ideas and wants to overthrow the state and impose Islamic law on the country. | The group accuses Nigeria's government of being corrupted by Western ideas and wants to overthrow the state and impose Islamic law on the country. |
It has killed dozens of people, mostly shot by gunmen riding motorbikes, in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. | It has killed dozens of people, mostly shot by gunmen riding motorbikes, in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. |
Last year, officials blamed two explosions in Abuja during celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Nigeria's independence on militants from the oil-rich Niger Delta. | Last year, officials blamed two explosions in Abuja during celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Nigeria's independence on militants from the oil-rich Niger Delta. |