Beni 26 December : .At least 8 people were killed in a suicide bomber blast late Saturday night during the Christmas celebration in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sources at a hospital said that the explosion occurred on Sunday.According to General Ekenge Sylvain (spokesman for North Kivu’s governor), at least six persons, including the suicide bomber were killed in Saturday night’s “terrorist attack” on Beni.
The medical director at the General Hospital in Beni reported that two more people have died due to serious injuries sustained during the blast.He also said that fourteen other people had been injured, with some of them being seriously ill, Xinhua’s news agency stated.
At around 20.00, the explosion took place in front of a bustling bar.Sylvain Elkenge says that the suicide bomber was stopped from entering the busy bar by security guards.He then activated the bomb next to the entrance of the other bar.
Security services were on the ground in the area of the blast site all night, Saturday through Sunday.Local security sources claim that several fragments of the explosive device were found at the site by MONUSCO-supported deminers.
Patrick Muyaya, a spokesperson for the Congolese government condemned Saturday’s suicide bombing which resulted in the loss of lives.
President Felix Tshisekedi stated that he was shocked to learn of the terrorist attack on Beni’s Christmas Day.He strongly condemned the abominable act.
The president paid tribute to those who were hurt and offered condolences for the families of the deceased.He promised that such crimes would not be tolerated and would pursue their perpetrators.
Beni’s territory has been under siege from May to protect the extraordinary measures that were taken against two other provinces.Ituri is also under constant attack by the rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces.These forces have been present in the region for many decades.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has launched official air and artillery attacks against ADF rebel positions northeastern DR Congo since November 30 in conjunction with the Congolese Army.
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