250kg of explosive in bomb
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE BOMB which devastated the US embassy in Kenya on Friday could have been assembled with as much as 250kg of explosives, a British Army officer who was one of the first at the scene said yesterday.
Captain Rhyl Jones, garrison engineer of the British Army in Kenya, said: "It was probably commercial explosives, because of the effect that it had on the buildings in the area."
The bomb exploded in a car park between the US embassy building and the Co-Operative House. Ufundi House, a five-storey building in front of the car park and sandwiched between the embassy building and Co-Operative House, was levelled.
"Most of the explosion went upwards. Obviously the base of the vehicle it was in acted as a shield for the charge and that was why the damage was at a high level," Capt Jones said.
He was told by the British High Commission to send as many troops as he could into Nairobi city centre to assist the US embassy.
He arrived at the scene shortly after midday - just over an hour after the explosion.
"Most of the troops with me have served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands and are used to these sort of situations. It is certainly the biggest bomb I have ever seen," Capt Jones said, adding that any number of commercial explosives could have been used, including ammonium phosphate and plastic explosives. "I reckon it was a pretty well-made bomb. I don't think it was manufactured locally. I am only surmising, but I would imagine it was manufactured somewhere else and shipped in."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments