Скачать или смотреть Nigeria market explosion: suicide bomber detonates explosive-laden car at market, killing 18

At least 18 people were killed in a blast that rocked a market in northeastern Nigeria on Tuesday morning.

Authorities confirmed that the blast in Maiduguri was triggered by a van carrying charcoal and explosives. According to the Los Angeles Times, the reporter was killed.

The explosion was so powerful that several vehicles, including vendors’ cars and taxis unloading passengers near the market, were destroyed, in addition to a number of stalls.

The casualties would certainly have been greater if not for Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. The market was less busy than usual as people stay up late to eat at night.

Quoting an unidentified medical worker, the BBC reported that the blast injured 55 others. The exact death toll is yet to be verified.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but Boko Haram, the Islamic extremist group whose name translates loosely to “western education is sinful” is likely behind the bombing attack.

Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno state, is the birthplace of the militant group which made its name by abducting more than 200 schoolgirls in Chinbok in April.