Thaindian News

KAMPALA, UGANDA (BNO NEWS) — At least 64 people were killed and scores of others were injured after three bombs exploded at World Cup viewing parties in the Ugandan capital on late Sunday, police said, in what appeared to be a coordinated terrorist attack.

The first blast happened just after 11 p.m. local time in an Ethiopian restaurant in Kabalagala, a neighborhood in Kampala, while the 2010 World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain was underway.

Several minutes later, two bombs exploded at Kyadondo Rugby Club in the Kampala neighborhood of Nakawa. Both exploded seconds apart as hundreds had gathered to watch the final match of the World Cup.

A spokeswoman for the Uganda Police Force confirmed at least 64 people had been killed, while 57 others had been injured. Many of the injured were in a critical condition and the death toll is expected to rise.

Several foreigners, all believed to be guests at the restaurant, were among those killed in the attacks, police said. At least one American citizen was among the fatalities, the U.S. Embassy confirmed, without providing more details. The other nationalities were not yet known as of early Monday.

Rev. Kathleen Kind, pastor of the Christ Community United Methodist Church in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, said six of its members had been injured in the blasts.

“All of our members are accounted for [and] all of their families have been contacted,” Kind said. “And the church is now together praying, here in the church and in their homes, for all of their members.”

Kind said some of their members sustained broken bones, flesh wounds, temporary blindness and hearing problems. She said the members had been serving as part of a mission team to work with a local congregation.

An official with the British Foreign Office was not immediately able to say if any Britons were among the casualties. “We have received reports of bomb blasts in Kampala, Uganda,” he said. “Our officials on the ground are urgently investigating to get clarification.”

It was not immediately clear who was behind the bombings, which appeared to be a coordinated terrorist attack, and a police spokeswoman said it was too early to point fingers. “We have just begun our investigation,” she said.

Police Major General Kale Kayihura, however, said the attacks were targeting football fans and said he believed Al Shabaab militants from Somalia could be behind it.

A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama had been informed about the tragedy in Uganda and sent his condolences to the people of Uganda. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a personal statement on early Monday.

“I join President Obama in strongly condemning today’s attacks in Kampala, Uganda targeting innocent spectators watching the World Cup final,” Clinton said. “We understand that American citizens may have been injured or killed and our embassy is reaching out to assist. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims, in the United States and Uganda.”

Clinton continued by saying that the United States has a ‘long-standing, close friendship’ with the people and government of Uganda and pledged to work together to bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice. “At this tragic moment, the United States stands with Uganda.”