A suicide bomber has struck outside a main crowded market in Chad’s capital, killing 17 people and injuring scores of others, a police spokesman told Al Jazeera.
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“After the explosion, the provisional toll is 15 dead including the bomber”, police spokesman Paul Manga said.
A witness at the scene, Esaie Maloum, said he overheard the bomber praying and saying “Allahu Akbar”, or “God is great” in Arabic, before carrying out the attack. Chad authorities banned the head-to-toe religious garment last month, citing the risk of attackers using it as a disguise or to hide explosives underneath.
“A woman dressed in a burqa arrived at the entrance to the market and a policeman asked to search her”, the official said. “He tried to enter the market when he was intercepted by police”, Manga said.
“It was then that he detonated his explosives belt”, the source added.
Residents said the explosion happened at around 0830 local time (0730 GMT), during a busy period before the midday heat.
Saturday’s blast came a week after suspected Boko Haram fighters killed 26 people in nightly attacks on two villages on Lake Chad.
The country has suffered multiple attacks from the sect.
Chad has been a major participant in the fight against Boko Haram, which has publicly threatened Chad’s President Idriss Deby with retaliation.
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Chad sent troops to neighboring Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger to work with these countries to fight against Boko Haram.
