Nigerian Islamists Claim Deadly Attack On UN
Sky News – 5 hours agoThe Nigerian Islamist group known as Boko Haram has said it was behind the suicide car bombing at the UN offices in the capital Abuja that killed at least 18 people and injured more than 60.
A man claiming to be a spokesman for the group called a French news agency journalist and told him the attack was "carefully scripted".
The man, who identified himself as Abu Darda, said: "Though the wisdom of Allah, we have launched the attack with absolute precision.
"The attack was carefully scripted and executed. We have said it several times that the UN is one of our prime targets."
The caller added: "More attacks are on the way, and by the will of Allah we will have unfettered access to wherever we want to attack.
"We have more than 100 men who are willing to lay down their lives for the cause of Allah."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon condemned the attack and warned the casualty figures were "likely to be considerable".
He revealed 26 different UN agencies operated in the building, with around 400 staff.
"This was an assault on those who devoted their lives to helping others," he said.
Foreign Secretary William Hague added: "Around the world the UN works for peace, security and international cooperation and an attack on the UN is an attack on these principles."
US President Barack Obama has denounced the attack as "horrific and cowardly".
Witnesses said a car rammed through two sets of gates protecting the compound and drove towards the main building where it crashed into the reception area and blew up.
An entire wing of the building was reportedly destroyed.
UN worker Ocilake Michael said: "We just saw the blast coming from the building. All the people in the basement were killed. Their bodies are littered all over the place."
A worker for Unicef, Michael Ofilaje, added: "The blast came from the basement and shook the building.
"I saw scattered bodies... many people are dead."
The attack was carried out just before 11am local time, in a part of the capital that is also home to the US embassy and other diplomatic buildings.
Boko Haram, whose name translates as 'Western education is sinful', has carried out a series of bombings and assassinations in northern Nigeria in the last year.
In June the group bombed Nigeria's federal police headquarters, killing two people.
It also claimed responsibility for a failed car bomb attack in Borno State last week.
A UN worker, who would only identify himself as Bodunrin, was reported as saying: "This is getting out of hand. If they can get into the UN House, they can reach anywhere."
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to work with neighbouring Niger to tackle Islamic extremism in the region.
A man claiming to be a spokesman for the group called a French news agency journalist and told him the attack was "carefully scripted".
The man, who identified himself as Abu Darda, said: "Though the wisdom of Allah, we have launched the attack with absolute precision.
"The attack was carefully scripted and executed. We have said it several times that the UN is one of our prime targets."
The caller added: "More attacks are on the way, and by the will of Allah we will have unfettered access to wherever we want to attack.
"We have more than 100 men who are willing to lay down their lives for the cause of Allah."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon condemned the attack and warned the casualty figures were "likely to be considerable".
He revealed 26 different UN agencies operated in the building, with around 400 staff.
"This was an assault on those who devoted their lives to helping others," he said.
Foreign Secretary William Hague added: "Around the world the UN works for peace, security and international cooperation and an attack on the UN is an attack on these principles."
US President Barack Obama has denounced the attack as "horrific and cowardly".
Witnesses said a car rammed through two sets of gates protecting the compound and drove towards the main building where it crashed into the reception area and blew up.
An entire wing of the building was reportedly destroyed.
UN worker Ocilake Michael said: "We just saw the blast coming from the building. All the people in the basement were killed. Their bodies are littered all over the place."
A worker for Unicef, Michael Ofilaje, added: "The blast came from the basement and shook the building.
"I saw scattered bodies... many people are dead."
The attack was carried out just before 11am local time, in a part of the capital that is also home to the US embassy and other diplomatic buildings.
Boko Haram, whose name translates as 'Western education is sinful', has carried out a series of bombings and assassinations in northern Nigeria in the last year.
In June the group bombed Nigeria's federal police headquarters, killing two people.
It also claimed responsibility for a failed car bomb attack in Borno State last week.
A UN worker, who would only identify himself as Bodunrin, was reported as saying: "This is getting out of hand. If they can get into the UN House, they can reach anywhere."
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to work with neighbouring Niger to tackle Islamic extremism in the region.
Obama Warns Hurricane Could Be 'Historic'
By Dominic Waghorn, US correspondent | Sky News – 8 hours agoHe announced the decision after telling reporters he believes the hurricane could be "extremely dangerous and costly".
"All indications point to this being a historic hurricane," the president in a hastily convened press conference at the farm where he has been staying with his family off the Boston coast.
He will leave his wife and daughters to complete their holiday but return himself to the White House. Advisers say he believes it is the prudent course of action.
Looking earnest, the president urged residents of the eastern US to "take precautions now" ahead of the storm and obey any evacuation orders.
"I cannot stress this highly enough. If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now," Mr Obama said. "Don't wait, don't delay."
States of emergency have been declared in seven states and evacuation orders in a number of coastal areas.
New Jersey and North Carolina have announced mandatory evacuations and New York has now followed suit.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered a mandatory evacuation of people living in low-lying areas of the city.
He previously authorised the evacuation of hospitals and other at-risk institutions in parts of the city.
Bridges have also been ordered to shut down if winds exceed 60 miles-an-hour and the subways will start a system-wide shutdown at noon local time on Saturday.
Winds topping 100 miles-an-hour have already brought chaos to the Caribbean.
US authorities are worried about high winds but also heavy rainfall bringing flashfloods.
From the Carolinas to Cape Cod, 55 million people are in the storm's potential path in one of the most densely populated parts of the United States.
Barack Obama's holiday has been plagued by huge news stories, distracting him from day one.
Turmoil on world markets, an earthquake, a momentous revolution and now a hurricane have guaranteed constant distractions for the president as he tried to recover from the summer's draining political battles in Washington.
With Irene heading straight for some of America's biggest cities and built up areas, he will not be expecting a quiet weekend.
