Dubai/Algiers – A double suicide bombing rocked the city of Blida, about 40 kilometers southwest of Algiers, on Monday afternoon, in a security incident that coincided with the first day of Pope Leo XIV’s historic visit to Algeria. According to AFP and multiple international reports, the attack occurred while the Pope was in the country. This is the first ever papal visit to Algeria.
Initial reports indicate that two men detonated their explosive belts in Blida, with the likely target being a police station. Le Monde reported that the attackers detonated the devices before reaching their target after a police officer on guard noticed their approach. This suggests that the operation was partially thwarted before it could fully achieve its intended goal.
So far, Algerian authorities have not announced a final official death toll. However, available reports indicate that the perpetrators were killed and several people were injured, while other initial reports mentioned at least one police officer being wounded. No group had claimed responsibility for the attack as of Monday evening.
The incident occurred at a highly sensitive moment, both politically and symbolically. The official Vatican program shows that the Pope’s visit to Algeria began on Monday, April 13, and includes meetings with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and visits to the Grand Mosque of Algiers and the Notre Dame d’Afrique Basilica. The Pope was then scheduled to travel to Annaba on Tuesday before continuing his broader African tour. The Algerian Press Agency (APS) presented the visit as a historic event focused on dialogue, peace, and coexistence.
In contrast, official information about the Blida attack was extremely scarce in the initial hours. According to Le Monde, an information blackout was imposed after the incident, while the APS homepage, upon review, featured coverage of the Pope’s visit and activities without any clear mention of the attack. This information vacuum contributed to the widespread uncertainty surrounding the number of victims and the background of the perpetrators.
The attack brings the issue of security in Algeria back to the forefront, despite the significant decrease in violence compared to the “Black Decade” of the 1990s. Reports indicate that remnants of extremist groups remain active on a limited scale in some areas. They also suggest that initial indications from the Blida attack point to a relatively rudimentary operation rather than a large-scale or highly complex one.
Ultimately, the story so far appears to be one of a relatively limited double suicide bombing. However, it is highly symbolic, as it targeted a moment that Algeria and the Vatican sought to present as one of openness and interfaith dialogue. With no detailed official statement yet released, the situation remains fluid. A final picture is expected to emerge with the release of an official toll and the results of the security investigations.
