Two suicide bombers on April 13 detonated explosive vests in the Algerian city of Blida on the first day of Pope Leo XIV’s historic visit to the North African nation, according to multiple media reports and footage circulating online, though Algerian authorities have not confirmed the attack.
According to Le Monde, the two men killed only themselves, with no other confirmed deaths, though several people were injured. The outlet reported that one explosion occurred near the central police station, and the second was about 1,640 feet (roughly 0.3 miles) away.
Police officers opened fire on the two bombers, but the attackers still were able to detonate their explosives, according to the French magazine Le Point.
French outlet Marianne reported that the attack occurred “almost at the same time” as Pope Leo delivered a speech at the Great Mosque of Algiers, located about 35 miles from the sites of the reported attacks.
As Zeale News reported, Pope Leo arrived in the Muslim-majority country of Algeria on April 13 to begin his three-day Apostolic Journey. During the first day of his visit, he honored the country’s independence martyrs, addressed Algerian civil authorities, met with Augustinian missionary sisters, visited the Algiers mosque, and gathered with the Catholic community at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa. In addresses given throughout the day, the Pope encouraged the country to promote peace, justice, and human dignity in a divided world.