Twin suicide blasts reported in Algeria during Pope Leo XIV visit
Algeria has been rocked by reports of a suspected twin suicide attack in the city of Blida, raising fresh security concerns during a high-profile international visit.
According to sources close to the case, two individuals detonated explosives on Monday afternoon, killing themselves in what is being described as a possible terrorist incident. Video footage verified by AFP showed two severely mutilated bodies lying in the street, with bystanders gathering at the scene and attempting to cover the remains amid light rain.
The incident occurred just hours after Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algiers, marking a historic visit as the first by a sitting pope to the country. Authorities had already heightened security measures ahead of the visit, although no confirmed link has been established between the Pope’s presence and the reported explosions.
Uncertainty continues to surround the situation. Algerian authorities have yet to officially confirm the attacks, and the African Union has retracted an earlier statement condemning the incident, citing a lack of verified information.
Despite Algeria’s long history of conflict with armed Islamist groups, particularly during its civil war in the 1990s, such attacks have become increasingly rare in recent years.
The developments have nonetheless heightened tensions, as officials work to determine the facts and assess any potential threat during a visit that carries both religious and diplomatic significance.
