East African Embassy Bombings
On August 7, 1998, nearly simultaneous bombs blew up in front of the American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in Africa. Two hundred and twenty-four people died in the blasts, including 12 Americans, and more than 4,500 people were wounded.
In the aftermath of the attacks, over 900 FBI agents alone-and many more FBI employees-travelled overseas to assist in the recovery of evidence and the identification of victims at the bomb sites and to track down the perpetrators.
These attacks were soon directly linked to al Qaeda. Extraordinary efforts from our federal and international partners led to the identification, arrest, and extradition to the United States of several members of the al Qaeda terrorist network for their role in the bombings.
Mohammed Sadeek Odeh and Mohammed Rashed Daoud al-Owhali were arrested in Kenya within 20 days of the bombings and rendered to the U.S. shortly thereafter. Both were convicted for their roles in the bombing and sentenced to life in prison in October 2001.
In September 1998, Mamdouh Mahmud Salim was arrested in Germany. He is currently serving a life sentence for stabbing a federal corrections officer in the eye while in prison after being charged in the embassy attacks.
SOURCE: fbi.gov/wikipedia.org
Nigeria church attack in Kogi state 'kills 19'
At least 19 people have been killed in a gun attack on a church in central Nigeria, officials say. Gunmen stormed the church near the city of Okene in Kogi state and fired on worshippers, they say. The pastor was among those killed when the assailants fired Kalashnikov assault rifles, the officials add.
It is not clear who carried out the attack, but militant Islamist group Boko Haram has carried out numerous raids on churches and other targets in Nigeria. BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says the shooting happened further south than most areas affected by Boko Haram violence.
The joint military force commander in Kogi state, Lt Col Gabriel Olorunyomi, said the gunmen opened fire on the Deeper Life Bible Church in the town of Otite, near Okene, the AP news agency reports. Many others were wounded in the attack and rushed to different hospitals, Lt Col Gabriel Olorunyomi said. The authorities are searching for more victims who may have run into the bush nearby, he added.
SOURCE: BBC
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