New Delhi: Two explosions rocked Uganda's capital Kampala on Tuesday morning, causing panic and people running for cover, news agency AP reported. The twin blasts are being treated as coordinated attacks. Nothing has been said about casualties yet.
Meanwhile, a video posted online by the official Twitter handle of Para-badminton India showed smoke billowing out near the spot where explosions occurred and also confirmed that multiple bomb blasts took place 100 meters away from official Hotel in which India's Para-badminton was staying and that they are safe.
Witnesses said one of the explosions took place near a police station and the other exploded on the roadside near the Parliament building. According to news agency AP, the blast near Parliament was likely to have targeted a building which houses an insurance company's office. Due to the explosion, the vehicles parked there caught fire. According to national broadcaster UBC, some MPs were seen vacating the nearby Parliament House complex.
At least 24 people have been hospitalised with injuries sustained in the blasts, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said in a Twitter post.
“What we can say (is) this was an attack but who is responsible is a matter that is under investigation,” Uganda’s Assistant Inspector General of police Edward Ochom told the AFP news agency.
It is yet to be confirmed whether the expulsions were triggered by a bomb or some other way. Ugandan officials have been urging people to exercise caution in the wake of a series of bombings in recent weeks.
One person was killed and at least seven were injured in an explosion at a restaurant in Kampala on 23rd October.
The Allied Democratic Forces, an affiliate of the Islamic State group in central Africa, had claimed responsibility for the attack on the restaurant.
(With inputs from AP)