The 2008 Issers bombing occurred on August 19, 2008, when a suicide bomber drove and detonated a vehicle laden with explosives into a crowd of para-military recruits waiting to take exams outside a police academy in
Issers,
Boumerdès Province,
Algeria killing 43 and injuring 38. The
Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb is suspected as being responsible.
International reactions
International organizations
European Union - The French EU presidency condemned the bombing, releasing a statement in which the EU "very firmly condemns the terrorist acts that have just claimed so many lives", remarking that Algerian people are "once again victims of blind and barbaric terrorist violence".[1]
Countries
Algeria – Algerian
Interior MinisterYazid Zerhouni called the bombing "an act against Algerians, these terrorist gangs are seeking through attacks against civilians to loosen the net closing around them as the security forces drive them to the wall".
France - The French Prime Minister,
François Fillon, phoned his Algerian counterpart to assure him "the support of France in the fight against terrorism".[1]
Italy - The Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi expressed his support for Algeria's leadership.[1]
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic -
Mohamed Abdelaziz, president of the SADR, vividly condemned "the coward terrorist attacks in Issers and Bouira (Algeria), which caused the loss of innocent lives", recalling the
Sahrawi government and people "unconditional solidarity with Algeria in these sad moments".[2]
Spain - The Spanish Foreign Minister,
Miguel Ángel Moratinos, called his Algerian counterpart to express his condolences and the support of the Spanish people. "The government expresses its indignation and its firm condemnation of the cowardly terrorist attack on Wednesday against the civilian population of Bouira, which left many dead and wounded, just one day after the attack in Issers," the ministry said in a statement.[3]