The Ethiopian government has announced that
two suicide bombers who had planned to disrupt Sunday’s World Cup qualifier
between Ethiopia and Nigeria in Addis Ababa accidentally blew themselves up
before carrying out the attack.
Nigeria defeated their hosts 2-1 at the
packed National Stadium in a first leg play-off game for Brazil 2014.
On Monday, the government opened up on the
failed plot and stated that the explosion happened in the upscale Bole district
of the capital, about 5 km (3 miles) from Addis Ababa Stadium where thousands
of fans were gathering for the match.
The Nigerian team stayed at Saro-Maria Hotel
in the Bole district not far from the airport.
"They were Somali nationals and plotted
to carry out a suicide attack disguised as fans on either the stadium or areas
where large crowds gathered to watch the game," government spokesman
Shimeles Kemal was quoted by Reuters.
"Heavy police presence must have caused
their nervousness and state of agitation which led to the detonation that
caused their own death," Shimeles said.
Explosives, arms, hand grenades and football
shirts were found at the scene of the blast, at a residential address an hour
before kick-off, Shimeles said. Three suspects were detained. The Bole district
has a small Somali refugee community.
Nigeria will host the return leg in Calabar
on November 16.
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