Terrorists targeted French embassy in Mauritania

Terrorists targeted French embassy in Mauritania

2011-02-03 05:28:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA (BNO NEWS) -- Three suspected terrorists who were killed when the Mauritanian Army shelled their vehicle on Wednesday were planning to attack military barracks and the French embassy, defense minister Hamadi Ould Hamadi said.

Three al-Qaida members were killed and eight soldiers slightly injured when soldiers blew up the four-wheel drive, which carried 1.5 tons of explosive, the minister said.

The car, which attempted to get to the country's capital, was tracked by security forces since crossing from Mali after the army was warned about the arrival of the terrorists, the minister added. al-Qaeda is believed to have an important base in northern Mali.

According to reports, the blast, which took place about 12 kilometers south of Nouakchott, woke up city residents.

Mauritanina Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed visited the soldiers who were injured and congratulated them for their “brave sacrifice."

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