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Chad blames Boko Haram for deadly suicide attacks in capital

Gulan Media June 15, 2015 News
Chad blames Boko Haram for deadly suicide attacks in capital
Chad has accused the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram of carrying out a double suicide bombing in the capital N’Djamena on Monday.

Seven people were killed in an initial suicide attack and another 35 died when explosives planted at the police training academy went off, according to a Reuters source.

A second source said at least 20 people had been killed and dozens more were wounded.

There was no immediate claim for the attack, but suspicions that Boko Haram carried out the bombings were later confirmed by the government.

"Boko Haram chose the wrong target,” the government said in a statement. “These lawless and faithless terrorists will be flushed out and neutralised wherever they are."

Chad is a key player in the five-nation coalition put together to destroy the insurgent group based in neighbouring Nigeria. It has also played a central role in combating jihadist groups in northern Mali.

Chad's military has lost dozens of soldiers fighting in both countries and there have been a number of attacks near its border with Nigeria.

But Monday's bombing is the first such attack on N'Djamena.

The riverside city, which lies on the border with Cameroon, has been chosen as the headquarters for the regional taskforce being launched to fight Boko Haram, supposed to group troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
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