Massive Blast Hits Nigerian UN Office, at Least 18 Dead

World | August 26, 2011, Friday // 15:21|  views

An explosion at the UN office in Nigerian capital Abuja was caused by a bomb. Photo by Getty Images

A massive blast shook Nigeria's main United Nations' office in the capital of Abuja on Friday as a car bomb tore through the building.

“So far, we have 18 dead and eight injured,” local police commissioner Mike Zuokumor has told journalists.

The accident has been confirmed by a UN official in Geneva to have been a bomb attack, according to CBS News.

"Many people are dead," Michael Ofilaje, a UNICEF worker at the building has said. He has revealed that scattered bodies could be seen inside.

The building, housing some 400 employees of the UN in Nigeria, is located in the same neighborhood as the U.S. embassy and other diplomatic posts in Abuja. The majority of UN's offices in the African country are located there.

It is believed that the explosion has been perpetrated by the Boko Haram Islamic sect, called the North African arm of al Qaeda . Suspected members of the sect had on Thursday hit police stations in Adamawa and Borno States before proceeding to rob banks in those states.

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Tags: blast, Nigeria, abuja, blast, car bomb, bomb attack, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda

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