Many feared dead as deadly suicide blast, explosions rock Kano
On January 20, 2012 · In News
KANO (AFP) –
A suicide blast and a series of other strong explosions rocked the city of Kano on Friday, killing at least two officers, a police source said, with many others feared dead.
A senior police source said the suicide blast occurred at a regional police headquarters in Kano, the largest city in mainly Muslim northern Nigeria. Some 20 other explosions were also heard along with gunfire between blasts.
Residents reported blasts and gunfire at the state police headquarters and said that at least two other police posts appeared to have been targeted.
Local television was reporting that scores were feared dead in the attacks. Police were not responding to phone calls.
"There was a suicide attack on the police zone 1 headquarters," the senior police source said on condition of anonymity. "So far two officers have been killed and the bomber also."
The country's emergency agency confirmed several explosions, including one reported at the regional police office, but were unable to get immediate access due to blocked roads.
"There are so many of these heavy blasts around the town," said Abubakar Jibril, an official with the National Emergency Management Agency in Kano. "They have blocked the road."
An AFP journalist heard what sounded to be some 20 explosions coming from at least two neighbourhoods in the city. Smoke could be seen billowing from the areas.
The loud explosions resulted in chaos, with motorcycles and cars fleeing the areas.
"It's terrifying where we are now," one resident said. "Bombs are going off inside the police headquarters, and then shootings between police and some gunmen."
Vanguard Nigeria