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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.
Local TV stations also said the blast was a bomb, Reuters news agency reports, and a large plume of smoke can be seen rising from near the building. An emergency official told Reuters news agency that a suspected suicide bomber had died in the explosion.
There are no details of casualties and no-one has claimed responsibility for the attack. 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 news agency quotes one witness as telling a local television station. "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.
Mr Ajayi said several vehicles had been blown up. 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.