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At least 60 killed, in Uganda twin bombings
12 July, 2010 | By Faith Karimi, CNN
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
At least one American was killed, the U.S. Embassy in Kampala,
Uganda, said.
At least 71 people were hospitalized, police spokeswoman Judith
Nabakooba said.
The blasts in the capital, Kampala, occurred within half-an-hour of each
other. One struck an Ethiopian restaurant in a neighborhood dotted with
bars; the second one a rugby sports center.
Stone Atwine was watching the game at the rugby center when the blast
occurred.
"It happened toward the 90th minute of the game ... this loud
explosion," he said. "We didn't know what was happening, we were
running around, scampering for safety. I saw dead guys still seated in
their chairs with blood."
Atwine said a second explosion struck the venue seconds later, and
turned off the lights.
"At that point, we ran off. My friends and I ran into the car and drove
off."
Relatives flocked to hospitals and mortuaries to look for loved ones
Monday.
"I was watching the game with my brother at the rugby center," said
Ian Lule, who was among a group gathered at a city hospital. "The blast
left him unconscious. I don't know how he is."
In the capital, crowds huddled around newspapers, talking in hushed
tones.
"Everyone is shocked, everyone is talking about it," said Mark Keith
Muhumuza, who was watching the game at a stadium near the rubgy
center explosion. "We were in panic mode at the stadium because we
thought we would be attacked next."
Muhumuza said when the game ended, he went to the rugby center.
"People were wailing, some were trying to find their relatives, others
were trying to run away from the scene."
The sites of the bombings remained cordoned off as authorities
intensified security in the east African nation. Police and military forces
patrolled the capital.
"We have more security forces, and are asking everyone to be
cautious," Nabakooba said. "We are also asking people to avoid large
crowds, but the most important thing is to be cautious."
Some of the injured at the restaurant included six members of an
American church mission working with a local congregation, according
to the Rev. Kathleen Kind, pastor of Christ Community United Methodist
Church in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
All the church members were accounted for and families had been
contacted, Kind said. Their injuries ranged from broken bones and flesh
wounds to temporary blindness and hearing problems, she said.
Nabakooba called the bombings "definite acts of terrorism," but
cautioned that the investigation is not focused on any specific group.
Islamic militants battling Somalia's U.N.-backed transitional government
have threatened attacks on Uganda and Burundi, which contribute
troops to an African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
The African Union summit is scheduled to be held in Kampala next week.
Journalist Samson Ntale contributed to this report.
Courtesy
12 July, 2010 | By Faith Karimi, CNN
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- NEW: One American included among the dead
- Blasts occur within half hour of each other
- Witness: "We were running around, scampering for safety"
- At least 71 people are hospitalized
- (CNN) -- The
death toll from
twin bombings
in Uganda rose
to at least 60,
police said
Monday, a day
after explosions
ripped through
venues where
crowds were
watching the
World Cup.
At least one American was killed, the U.S. Embassy in Kampala,
Uganda, said.
At least 71 people were hospitalized, police spokeswoman Judith
Nabakooba said.
The blasts in the capital, Kampala, occurred within half-an-hour of each
other. One struck an Ethiopian restaurant in a neighborhood dotted with
bars; the second one a rugby sports center.
Stone Atwine was watching the game at the rugby center when the blast
occurred.
"It happened toward the 90th minute of the game ... this loud
explosion," he said. "We didn't know what was happening, we were
running around, scampering for safety. I saw dead guys still seated in
their chairs with blood."
Atwine said a second explosion struck the venue seconds later, and
turned off the lights.
"At that point, we ran off. My friends and I ran into the car and drove
off."
Relatives flocked to hospitals and mortuaries to look for loved ones
Monday.
"I was watching the game with my brother at the rugby center," said
Ian Lule, who was among a group gathered at a city hospital. "The blast
left him unconscious. I don't know how he is."
In the capital, crowds huddled around newspapers, talking in hushed
tones.
"Everyone is shocked, everyone is talking about it," said Mark Keith
Muhumuza, who was watching the game at a stadium near the rubgy
center explosion. "We were in panic mode at the stadium because we
thought we would be attacked next."
Muhumuza said when the game ended, he went to the rugby center.
"People were wailing, some were trying to find their relatives, others
were trying to run away from the scene."
The sites of the bombings remained cordoned off as authorities
intensified security in the east African nation. Police and military forces
patrolled the capital.
"We have more security forces, and are asking everyone to be
cautious," Nabakooba said. "We are also asking people to avoid large
crowds, but the most important thing is to be cautious."
Some of the injured at the restaurant included six members of an
American church mission working with a local congregation, according
to the Rev. Kathleen Kind, pastor of Christ Community United Methodist
Church in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
All the church members were accounted for and families had been
contacted, Kind said. Their injuries ranged from broken bones and flesh
wounds to temporary blindness and hearing problems, she said.
Nabakooba called the bombings "definite acts of terrorism," but
cautioned that the investigation is not focused on any specific group.
Islamic militants battling Somalia's U.N.-backed transitional government
have threatened attacks on Uganda and Burundi, which contribute
troops to an African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
The African Union summit is scheduled to be held in Kampala next week.
Journalist Samson Ntale contributed to this report.
Courtesy
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