At least 62 people have died in two bomb blasts in the Algerian capital, Algiers, officials have said. The first explosion happened in the Ben Aknoun district, near the supreme constitutional court. That was followed shortly afterwards by a second blast at the United Nations offices in the Hydra neighbourhood. A UN worker caught up in the Hydra attack told the BBC that a large part of the building was destroyed and it was feared people were trapped inside. Dozens were wounded in the explosions, officials said.The Telegraph has further details and live video from the scene.
"These are crimes that targeted innocent people. Students and school children were among the victims. Nothing can justify the crime," he said. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the bombings, saying they were "just unacceptable". "I would like to condemn it in the strongest terms. It cannot be justified in any circumstances," he told reporters.
In the attack near the court, a bus packed with university students was passing by the vehicle containing the bomb when it exploded. Security officials said the bus took the full force of the blast and was ripped apart, killing and injuring many of those on board. At the UN offices in Hydra, it was the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) building which bore the brunt of the blast. A residential building and the UNHCR headquarters across the road were also damaged, witnesses said.
The Battle of Algiers
At least 62 people were killed today in terrorist attacks around the Algerian capital Algiers, according to reports from the British media (thus far nothing from CNN, MSNBC, et al). Initial reports say that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) was targeted by a suicide bomber and the country's supreme court—or a target in the vicinity—was hit by a powerful car bomb. BBC News has the latest:
Comments to "The Battle of Algiers":
Big Nanny | December 11, 2007, 10:45am | #
Since we haven't been to war with Algeria I have to ask, is it in Africa of Eastern Europe? My guess is Africa, only because they used the word "Supreme" when describing one of their agencies.creech | December 11, 2007, 10:49am | #
Ooohh "condemned in the strongest language."I'll bet the terrorists are really shaking.
Let's let the French play "world cop" on this one, please.
Steve | December 11, 2007, 10:51am | #
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Episiarch | December 11, 2007, 10:52am | #
Let's let the French play "world cop" on this one, please.The French already did that here for years, complete with the torture and other good stuff. Didn't work out so well. It is both a lesson and something to consider when the French deign to lecture us.
John-David | December 11, 2007, 10:52am | #
Wow, a major magazine being offered a link exchange! Can't turn that offer down.lunchstealer | December 11, 2007, 11:11am | #
Let's let the French play "world cop" on this one, please.Not to inflame our Gunnelian friend, but that never leads to good things. As Episiarch pointed out, they've been there done that with some unfortunate results. See also French Indochina. I enjoy eating their cheese and their methodology for swapping spit, but I really don't want to encourage their imperialism.
Is it just me, or do others think that randomly killing innocent people somewhat discredits the morality of your cause? If Doctors Without Borders starting doing this kind of evil crap, I'd likely lose all respect for their agenda.
Tom Walls | December 11, 2007, 11:15am | #
With UN offices as their target, those terrorists must have been reading the John Birch Society's the New American!Seriously, what kind of monstrous, irrational savages could target the offices of a development program?
Abdul | December 11, 2007, 11:19am | #
That was followed shortly afterwards by a second blast at the United Nations offices in the Hydra neighbourhoodDo you really want "Hydra" on your organization's return address? If that neighborhood isn't a Cobra cover, I'll trade in all my GI Joe action figures.
Episiarch | December 11, 2007, 11:27am | #
Do you really want "Hydra" on your organization's return address?Better than SPECTRE, right? Especially for the UN.
scape | December 11, 2007, 11:28am | #
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the bombings, saying they were "just unacceptable". "I would like to condemn it in the strongest terms. It cannot be justified in any circumstances," he told reporters.He then promised to hold his breath until terrorist activities ceased.
lunchstealer | December 11, 2007, 11:35am | #
Is it just me, or do others think that randomly killing innocent people somewhat discredits the morality of your cause? If Doctors Without Borders starting doing this kind of evil crap, I'd likely lose all respect for their agenda.Does this count that Giant Death Ray Laser they're building in the crater of Mt. Nyamuragira?
Guy Montag | December 11, 2007, 11:48am | #
(thus far nothing from CNN, MSNBC, et al)I suspect that they are
A UN worker caught up in the Hydra attack
Apparently these attacks have many heads . . .
Guy Montag | December 11, 2007, 11:56am | #
ed,[LA Times Satire] Bush's surge drives religious freedom fighters to new corners of the world. In an effort to attack the Bush war from the flanks . . . [/LA Times Satire]
joe | December 11, 2007, 11:59am | #
The difference between thoreau's silly speculation and Guy-n-ed's?thoreau is kidding.
matthew hogan | December 11, 2007, 12:02pm | #
A bomb. In Algiers? Is that like man bites dog or what? History turned on its head?Guy Montag | December 11, 2007, 12:04pm | #
The staff reporters/researchers are collectively searching their parent's record collection for a copy of "Rock the Casbah" for background.Guy Montag | December 11, 2007, 12:06pm | #
* MSM staff reporters/researchers that is.We all know that the first issued item to all Reason staffers is the complete Clash collection.
crimethink | December 11, 2007, 12:35pm | #
I think Badnarik is in New Hampshire right now.But I'm not sure where his highly trained army of unlicensed ferrets is.
LarryA | December 11, 2007, 12:39pm | #
Seriously, what kind of monstrous, irrational savages could target the offices of a development program?The kind that don’t want (Western) development?
“You are now entering Syria. Please set your watch back thirteen-hundred years.”
TheExpatriate | December 11, 2007, 1:00pm | #
Episiarch-"The French already did that here for years, complete with the torture and other good stuff. Didn't work out so well. It is both a lesson and something to consider when the French deign to lecture us."
Would that we had considered their experience before going to Iraq. Their lectures came from first-hand knowledge.
Ever wonder why a large portion of Europe is laughing at us now?
Episiarch | December 11, 2007, 1:06pm | #
Would that we had considered their experience before going to Iraq. Their lectures came from first-hand knowledge.Ever wonder why a large portion of Europe is laughing at us now?
Maybe you are having trouble understanding my point. The lesson I refer to is the lesson of their failure--and that we should have realized that going in was folly.
The something to consider when the French deign to lecture us is that they really should couch it more nicely, seeing as they are just as big of fuckups. Getting high and mighty because you failed and that gives you "expertise" on failure is pathetic.
TheExpatriate | December 11, 2007, 1:17pm | #
But if they were right, isn't it better that they point it out. I'd prefer a lecture to learning it the hard way.Personally, I find the whole Francophobia thing rather boring.
Guy Montag | December 11, 2007, 1:33pm | #
Their lectures came from first-hand knowledge.So did their lectures on the Germans.
lunchstealer | December 11, 2007, 1:35pm | #
I feel like somebody just walked over Grotius' grave.Episiarch | December 11, 2007, 2:20pm | #
Personally, I find the whole Francophobia thing rather boring.Me too. I also find somebody trying to see "Francophobia" where there is none to be boring too.
Fluffy | December 11, 2007, 4:03pm | #
Seriously, what kind of monstrous, irrational savages could target the offices of a development program?Actually, the current Algerian government exists precisely because of the efficacy of terror attacks of a similar nature.
Page 1 of the Algerian terrorist textbook is "Use terror to drive out 'good' imperialists so that none may be left behind but 'bad' imperialists."
The Iraq insurgency started by striking at the UN too. If you're the insurgent, your real enemy isn't the torturing occupier. He's your friend and helps your cause in the long run. Your real enemy is the friendly occupier who tells the truth and hands out food and supplies medical care. The population might actually LIKE that guy, so you have to kill him or drive him out. Once it's down to you vs. the torturer, you will win in the end.
miche | December 11, 2007, 4:12pm | #
Has anybody checked on Mike Badnarik's whereabouts?He only wanted to take care of the New York offices. But now that you mention it, I called him a few weeks ago and haven't heard back from him.
TGGP | December 11, 2007, 10:29pm | #
The film "Battle of Algiers" is viewable online. You can find it from here.