Current Events :: Ethiopia Marketplace Explosion

Video Parlor Blast in Ethiopia - BBC

There has been a large explosion in the Ethiopian capital's crowded Merkato business district where people gather socially after work.

The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says the blast happened in a video parlour where customers were watching a film.

A local radio station says four people died and 24 people were wounded. The police have not released any figures.

Sporadic attacks in Addis Ababa are usually blamed on Eritrean-back rebels.

Our correspondent says the explosion happened at around 1700 local time (1400 GMT).

Lots of ambulances have rushed to the scene - between the main Friday Mosque and bus station - and the whole area has been cordoned off by police, she says.

Merkato is full of teashops and places where young men and boys play table football.

(HT: BBC)

UPDATE:

4 People Killed in Explosion in Ethiopian Capitol

AP) ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — An explosion in the Ethiopian capital on Wednesday killed four people and injured 24 others, a federal police spokesman said. .

The explosion is believed to have occurred in a house inside Addis Ababa's bustling Merkato market at around 4 p.m. (1300GMT), said spokesman Demsash Hailu.

He said police sealed off the area and were investigating, but the cause of the explosion was not yet known.

There have been several unexplained explosions in Addis Ababa over the past year that have killed several people.

(HT: AP)