Uganda: ‘Serious blast’ at restaurant kills 1, injures 7
Ugandan police said late Saturday that one person died and seven were injured after a “serious blast” at a restaurant in the north of the capital city Kampala.
Investigators had moved in to find out the “true circumstances” behind the explosion, police said.
What do we know about the blast?
Uganda police spokesman Fred Enanga said in a statement on Twitter that the blast occurred at an eating point in Kampala’s Kawempe division.
“One person has been fatally wounded and seven others rushed to Mulago National Referral hospital, with serious injuries,” said Enanga.
“The scene has been cordoned off, and our joint task teams from the bomb squad called to thoroughly document the scene, to help determine whether the explosion arose out of an intentional act or not.”
Police said the blast at 9 p.m. local time rocked the eatery located at a normally busy area in Kampala.
Authorities urged the public to remain calm and comply with the country’s 7 p.m. curfew, which has been imposed to stem a COVID-19 outbreak.
Kampala was the target of attacks in the past but has been relatively sedate in recent years
What is the security situation in Uganda?
On October 8, the so-called “Islamic State” group claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a police post in nearby Kawempe.
Later on, Ugandan police confirmed a minor incident had occurred without reporting injuries or explosions.
The UK and France earlier this month raised their traveling advice for Uganda, telling visitors to be especially vigilant in crowded areas.
“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Uganda. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners,” said the updated UK travel advice.
In 2010, two Kampala bombings by Somalia’s Al-Shabaab killed 76 football fans. It came after Uganda sent troops to Somalia as part of an African Union force to tackle the insurgents.
jc/fb (AFP, AP)
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