Blog #4 Mauritanian Authorities Foil al-Qaida Linked Attack Attempt

Wednesday, February 8, 2011

5:31pm

Mauritanian Authorities Foil al-Qaida Linked Attack Attempt

Summary: In Nouakchott, Mauritania (a country in Northern Africa), security forces opened fire on a car loaded with explosives early Wednesday. The car was attempting to speed into the capital where the bombers were targeting President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. Security forces that were firing upon the car actually set off an enormous explosion killing the three bombers in the car. The explosion was so powerful, in fact, that it shook the neighborhood of Ryad nearly 6 miles from the city center. Two other suspicious vehicles had been tracked upon entrance into the country from northern Mali. One of the vehicles was apprehended and the driver, a suspected al-Qaida militant, confessed to the plot, the target, and the direction of travel. The second vehicle was cornered, carrying 1.5 tons of explosives where it was taken to a desolate area and underwent a controlled detonated.

Analysis: The fact that security forces were able to prevent the killing of Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is excellent news. The fact that all three suspected vehicles were taken out without killing any innocent bystanders is also very excellent news. Had the head of Mauritania been assassinated there most likely would have been some political turmoil. If any of the vehicles loaded with explosives had been detonated in a residential area, there is a guarantee that more than one person would find it to be a problem, making it a social issue. An explosion killing several innocent men, women and children would cause serious chaos, pain, and perhaps even some sort of uprising. Due to the swift actions and reactions of the Mauritania security forces, casualties were kept to a minimum, and precious lives were saved.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/02/AR2011020200733.html