Twin suiside attack in Timbuktu

Posted on April 15, 2018 by Europe correspondent Leave a comment

Militants disguised as UN peacekeepers – in blue helmets and driving a vehicle marked with the UN logo – struck two bases near the airport in Timbuktu.

#Mali: Photo of the covert VBIED disguised as #UN vehicle which failed to detonate or taken out of action amidst today's attack against #Timbuktu Airport which harbors both #Barkane forces and #MINUSMA peacekeepers pic.twitter.com/tSx05S2LSx

— MENASTREAM (@MENASTREAM) April 14, 2018

The UN mission confirmed one of its peacekeepers had been killed at spot.

More than a dozen others, including many French soldiers, were wounded, according to the government officials.

Attaque coordonnée «sans précédent» contre les Casques bleus et les forces françaises à #Tombouctou #Mali #AFP @AFP_Afrique https://t.co/4G6WUaXy53

— bachorz (@borisbachorz) April 15, 2018

In a statement, the security ministry said the attack involved dozens of rockets fired by militants “wearing blue helmets”, and both vehicles used in the attack were packed with explosives.

One of the vehicles exploded, the ministry said, while the other, with the UN logo, was stopped.

The ministry said that while five people were seriously injured, but the fighting had ended and the situation was back under control.