Seven people were killed and 15 wounded on Monday in a blast at Ndjamena’s central market caused by a rocket left over from a rebel attack on the Chadian capital, the interior minister said.
Interior and Public Security Minister Ahamat Mahamat Beshir said the explosion happened when a rocket discovered in the market was being moved, adding that the missile ”was certainly one abandoned by the rebels” during an attack on the capital on February 2 and 3.
Ndjamena’s central market was the scene of heavy fighting during the two days of the rebel assault and was largely destroyed by explosions and fire.
Earlier, police sources said an investigation had been opened into the blast to determine if it had been caused deliberately.
Prime Minister Yousouf Saleh Abbas went to the scene and later visited the injured in hospital.
The rebels launched a surprise attack in February after dashing more than 1 000km across the country aboard about 300 pick-up trucks and came close to overthrowing the regime of President Idriss Déby Itno before being repulsed by superior army firepower. — Sapa-AFP