Bomb Blast Rocks UN Office Complex

This Day

26 August 2011

Bomb Blast Rocks UN Office Complex

•Attack was by a suspected suicide bomber

•18 persons dead

•Diplomats, several others injured

•It's an attack on global community, says FG

The four-storey building housing the various offices and departments of the United Nations (UN) in the Central Area of Abuja was rocked by bomb blast allegedly carried out by a suspected suicide bomber.

The blast occurred around 10.30 am, leaving at least 18 people dead and several others seriously injured. The building was also seriously damaged.

THISDAY learnt that an alleged suicide bomber rammed his Honda car, laced with explosives into the building, resulting in the blast.

Unconfirmed report put the number of deaths at 18 but this could not be independently confirmed at present.

THISDAY also could not confirm the number of those injured as they were still being rushed to the nearby National Hospital at press time.

Our correspondent, however, noticed that some of the victims brought to the National Hospital, Abuja were brought in dead.

The alleged bomber, THISDAY authoritatively gathered, defied all attempts by Kings Guard Security officials, on duty at the premises, to prevent him from entering the building.

It was also learnt that the alleged bomber forced his way into the ground floor of the building, where the reception is located.