Lord have mercy! Bomb explosion at Emab Plaza, near Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja. God Save Nigeria! pic.twitter.com/7IQYAxYtoF
— TechnoContract (@TechnoContract) June 25, 2014
At least 21 people were killed Wednesday after an explosion at a shopping mall in Nigeria — the second deadly attack in the African nation in less than two weeks. Investigators are still trying to determine if the bomb was timed to coincide with people gathering to watch the Nigerian team in the World Cup.
Here’s what you need to know about this developing story:
1. The Blast Went off in Embed Plaza in the Nigerian Capital of Abuja
Bomb explosion rocks popular shopping mall, Emab Plaza, on Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse 2 in Abuja, Nigeria pic.twitter.com/t3M7fW0buv
— Hottest Gist (@Hottestgist) June 25, 2014
The explosion went off at Embed Plaza, a mall in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, the AP reports. The mall is in the city’s Wuse 11 suburb.
Witnesses told the Guardian they believed the bomb may have been dropped near the entrance of the mall by a person on a motorcycle, but this is unconfirmed.
2. Witnesses Reported Seeing Body Parts Scattered Around
MORE: Witnesses in Nigeria say at least 8 killed and said body parts are scattered near the shopping mall: http://t.co/c0bOzuMnNU
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 25, 2014
Witnesses in the area reporting seeing body parts around the explosion site and images emerged on Twitter of charred corpses being carried away from the area on makeshift stretchers.
3. 14 People Were Killed at a World Cup Viewing Party Last Week
A bomb struck a World Cup viewing center in Nigeria, killing 14. http://t.co/pMmxHxTMip pic.twitter.com/XmEUXuQLxS
— RYOT NEWS (@RYOTnews) June 18, 2014
The explosion is one of a host of attacks that have terrorized the country over the past several months, and the second major attack in the past two weeks. Just last week, 14 people were killed in a bombing at a World Cup viewing party in Damaturu.
4. Islamic Extremists Have Been Terrorizing the Country
Protesters calling for the release of a group of abducted Nigerian schoolgirls gather outside Nigeria House on May 9, 2014 in London, England. 276 schoolgirls were abducted from their boarding school on 14 April, 2014 in the town of Chibok in north-eastern Borno state in Nigeria. The abductions have sparked protests around the world calling for the release of the girls who are being held by the militant group Boko Haram. (Getty)
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks Wednesday, but extremist groups including Boko Haram have been terrorizing the country for months and have vowed further attacks. On April Boko Haram took responsibility for the kidnapping of over 200 girls from a school in Chibok, and have since kidnapped many more girls.
They have also attacked numerous towns across north east Nigeria, sometimes killing hundreds of people at a time.
5. The Attack Happened Just Before Nigeria’s World Cup Game vs. Argentina
The Nigerian team runs onto the field on Wednesday’s game. (Getty)
The attack was carried out just as thousands throughout the country were preparing to watch with pride as the Nigerian soccer team played Argentina in the World Cup. Despite the loss, the Nigerians advanced to the World Cup knockout round.