Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

'Independence Day' bomb blast kills 29 in Algeria

Ap
Friday 05 July 2002 00:00 BST
Comments

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.

A bomb exploded today at an open-air market east of Algiers, killing 29 people and injuring 37 others, according to the official APS news agency.

A bomb exploded today at an open-air market east of Algiers, killing 29 people and injuring 37 others, according to the official APS news agency.

The attack - the worst killing of civilians in the country this year - came on the day that Algerians celebrate their independence from France, won after a brutal seven-year war.

The bomb exploded at the Larba market, nearly 15 miles southeast of the capital, APS said, quoting a statement from military authorities in charge of the Algiers area. Further information was not immediately available.

An estimated 120,000 people have been killed since the violence started in 1992 after the army aborted legislative elections to thwart victory by a Muslim fundamentalist party.

Extremists have been blamed for most bombings and other attacks. The Larba area was long a haunt of the radical Armed Islamic Group, blamed for most civilian massacres.

Security forces were thought to have largely cleaned out the area around Algiers and the area to the south, the Mitidja Plain, an agricultural zone parts of which were once controlled by extremists.

However, violence has recently stepped up in the Muslim North African nation, with gangs of armed men targeting public transport and isolated hamlets.

In the past month, 25 people were killed in three separate attacks on buses, one not far from Larba.

Security has been tightened around the capital since Monday ahead of independence day. France ruled Algeria for more than 130 years.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in