The city of Butembo is on alert after the explosion, Tuesday, September 6, of a homemade bomb trapped in a municipal office. The authorities counted two wounded at the office of the commune of Bulengera. A local official of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) is among the victims. The authorities announce that they have taken steps to prevent any surprises.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
There was no loss of life, but it is the nature of the threat that worries the politico-military authorities of Butembo, a city of around 2 million inhabitants. According to the local police chief, the pipe bomb was connected to a telephone. The explosion was triggered remotely by a terrorist.
The clues, according to him, attest to the presence in town of members of the ADF, the allied democratic forces that Daesh presents as its branch “ central Africa “. The authorities call for vigilance.
Searches and enhanced security
In a statement, the mayor of this city orders a ” strict control in all places with a strong human presence. This is the case for schools, universities, car parks, markets, drinking establishments and funeral homes. A special message is addressed to the leaders of religious denominations and those of public services to implement security devices in front of buildings.
Excavations should be carried out from this Thursday. The authority hopes in its press release that this call suffers from no flaws, because if the ADF has not yet massacred civilians in Butembo, it has escaped more than 700 inmates from the local prison last August. Since then, explains the mayor, the threat hangs over the city. In response, military positions were “ created ” in an urban environment.
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