A city outside of Algeria’s capital, Algiers, was shaken by twin suicide attacks on Monday, coinciding with the historic visit of Pope Leo XIV to the country, according to reliable sources. Verified video footage obtained by a news agency depicted the aftermath of the tragic events.
Details of the attacks in Blida
On Tuesday, a source informed that “There were two security incidents yesterday afternoon in Blida, incidents of a terrorist nature. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up and were killed.” The city of Blida is located approximately 45 kilometers southwest of Algiers. The footage released shortly after the pope’s arrival captured two lifeless bodies on the street, though it remains unclear when the videos were recorded.
Pope Leo XIV made history on Monday as the first pontiff to visit Algeria, marking the beginning of his tour across four African nations. While the attacks occurred during his visit, no direct connection has been established between the incidents and the papal event, which was held under stringent security measures.
Context of terrorism in Algeria
Algeria’s military often reports the arrests or deaths of individuals classified as “terrorists,” referring to armed Islamists still active in the region following the country’s civil war from 1992 to 2002. However, such attacks and bombings by militants have become increasingly uncommon. The most recent suicide attack in Algeria was recorded in February 2020, targeting a military base and resulting in the death of a soldier near the Malian border, a deed claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.
Following the attacks, the African Union (AU) issued a condemnation of what it termed an attempted double attack, only to retract its statement later. AU spokesman Nuur Mohamud Sheekh explained that the information that led to the initial condemnation had “not been corroborated by official sources.” As of now, Algerian authorities have not confirmed the occurrence of the attacks nor commented on the AU’s statement, which was subsequently removed from the organization’s official platforms.
In the original AU statement, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, expressed that he “condemns in the strongest possible terms the double attack that occurred on April 13, 2026, in Blida.” He extended his condolences to the victims’ families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
In related news, the Algerian army had reported earlier in March that it killed seven jihadists during an operation near the Tunisian border, which also resulted in the loss of three soldiers.