Police in Chad have warned that anyone caught wearing an Islamic veil that fully covers the face will be arrested on sight, in the wake of Saturday’s suicide bombing believed carried out by a Boko Haram operative disguised as a burka-wearing woman.
Some 15 people were killed and 80 wounded in the attack in the capital of N’Djamena, when a man disguised as a woman in the full burka blew himself up. The attack prompted police to declare that anyone wearing a full-face veil will be arrested on the spot, reported the International Business Times. The veils were banned last month in the Muslim-majority nation after twin attacks in the city killed 33.
In Saturday’s attack, the perpetrator was stopped at the main market entrance for a security check when he detonated his explosives belt. The attack confirmed that the ban “on the full-face veil was justified,” national police spokesman Paul Manga said, adding that “it now must be respected more than ever by the entire population.”
Security was tightened on Sunday, with police and soldiers being deployed in all areas, including intersections, markets and mosques.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack in a tweet signed “Islamic State, West Africa province” – the self-appointed name the group took since pledging allegiance to the Islamic State in March.
Since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009, more than 15,000 people have died and another 1.5 million have been displaced.
Chad is working with Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon to fight the armed group, pushing them out of towns and villages since February.
Leave a Reply