Nigeria: Explosion Rips Through Lagos Air Cargo Wing

ABC News (Reuters) ^ | 11-21-02

[ds2000]

— LAGOS (Reuters) - A massive explosion ripped through the cargo wing of Lagos airport in Nigeria's commercial capital on Thursday and witnesses said they feared there would be casualties.

"The explosion tore through the building," a witness told Reuters. "The place is till on fire with smoke rising high. Ambulances have raced to the scene and a helicopter is flying overhead."

There was no immediate explanation for the blast at the complex, which is usually crowded with cargo agents and clients.

Copyright 2002 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Frank_Discussion]

My First Thought: This wasn't meant for Nigeria - It was headed somewhere else and went off prematurely.

[Constitution Day]

BTTT

[mhking]

More and more explosions 'round the world - we keep sliding toward that precipice and Hans "The Swedish Chef" Blix keeps twiddling his thumbs. Does he realize that the Iraqis have shot at us six out of the last seven days? Patience only goes on for so long...

[js1138]

Bought their timers in Israel, no doubt.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

My thoughts exactly. Al queda or some group is experimenting with bombs in cargo containers.This one went off early.This is a country racked by civil war between muslims and christians.So its a breeding ground for terror groups.

[eno_]

Bingo. Just in time for Congress to relax the baggage screening requirements. And remember, it;s safe to flay as long as you don't complain about grandma getting get ass wanded.

[rintense]

FOXNEWS has been talking about this incident since 10am. They have been using Reuters as their source.

[JohnGalt]

Nigeria is home to a good number of bin Laden cheerleaders.

[rintense]

I've long been curious as to the concentration of Islam in Africa versus Christianity. Many people may have written off Africa, but it concerns me how much Islam has taken hold there (as well as other parts of the world- including Europe).

[mhking]

[Sabertooth]

we keep sliding toward that precipice and Hans "The Swedish Chef" Blix keeps twiddling his thumbs. Does he realize that the Iraqis have shot at us six out of the last seven days? Patience only goes on for so long...

Just how does he play the fiddle with his thumbs so otherwise occupied?

[hchutch]

I think we are waiting to establish a pattern of violations. Shots fired at our planes in the no-fly zone, weaseling with the inspectors, a whole list of things that will allow Russia to cover our backs with a veto at the UN.

I'm not sure if anyone here remembers, but Saddam recently came out backing the Chechens. Methinks that Putin won't be backing Saddam as a result.

[ErnBatavia]

I'm supposed to be getting a big check from Nigeria soon. I hope this incident doesn't cause any delays.

[Angelus Errare]

Al-Qaeda has an active presence in Nigeria, including several front companies and possibly even some of the smaller terrorist training camps in some of the more remote areas of the country. They print about half of their propoganda periodicals there (the other half are printed in the UK).

If this was them, it could have been a premature detonation and the explosives might have been headed for any number of targets. Algeria, Egypt, Djibouti, and Ethiopia are all on al-Qaeda's hit list.

[TomGuy]

found on allAfrica.com---no relationship, of course, to the airport explosion:

---

[Nigerian] Muslim Youths Raze Thisday Office

Daily Trust (Abuja)

November 21, 2002
Posted to the web November 21, 2002

Wisdom Patrick, With Agency Report


Muslims youths yesterday burned down the Regional Office of ThisDay newspaper to protest against a story that blasphemed Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Eyewitnesses said hundreds of Muslim youths chanting "Allahu Akbar," meaning God is Great were involved in the attack on the Kaduna office of ThisDay, situated in a converted villa at Malali GRA.

The Muslim youths, who came in a convoy of five buses, were protesting against a seditious article in ThisDay newspaper of Saturday, November 16, which said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would have married one of the contestants in the Miss World pageant.

Earlier yesterday morning, the irate youths invaded the circulation department of the newspaper along Jos road in Kaduna suburb and burnt all their copies.

Kaduna State Deputy Police Commissioner, Mr. Edgar Nanakumo, who visited ThisDay office yesterday morning vowed to apprehend the culprits.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tafa Balogun, has ordered a full investigation over the ThisDay publication and the Kaduna incident.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Chris Olakpe, who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday in Abuja described the attitude of the ThisDay reporter who anchored the story as an act of overzealousness and appealed for calm in all quarters.

Olakpe, a Deputy Commission of Police (DCP), stated further that the office of the IGP has already began investigation into the blasphemous and instigative publication and advised journalists to always exercise restraint when reporting sensitive issues.

Islamic militants burned down the regional office of ThisDay newspaper yesterday after it published a seditious report on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), witnesses said.

The incident in Kaduna triggered tension in other parts of the North. Security has been beefed up at ThisDay offices nationwide.

The flare-up in Kaduna has added to the controversy that has dogged the Miss World pageant due to take place in Abuja on December 7.

After assurance by the Federal Government that no one would be stoned to death, some 90 contestants arrived in Nigeria last week, with many voicing support for the condemned women.

Muslim organisations have branded the pageant "the parade of nudity" and threatened to disrupt the event.

Organisers had earlier been forced to shift the date of the pageant from November to December to prevent it taking place during the Muslim Ramadan fast.

[pabianice]

Nigeria. Another U.S. Liberal success story...

[rintense]

Seriously?

[TomGuy]

FoxNews reporting 2 explosions in warehouse of subsidiary of Nigerian Airways. No injuries reported (yet)..

[ErnBatavia]

Seriously?

It's supposed to be a secret....I should have kept my mouth shut. I was fortunate enough to be chosen as some sort of financial conduit, and as a result the big bucks are on the way!