98 Kenya/Tanzania August Bombings

Remembering the horrific bombing incident, 9/11 that occured in USA; I thought of also letting you known, in case you didn’t know, of a bombing incident that was a precursor to the 9/11 terrorist attack.

The twin bombings that occured in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam, the capital cities of Kenya and the then of Tanzania; two suicide bombers drove their trucks laden with TNT explosives at the entrance of US embassies in both countries. Their attack was a warning to US. We all know why terrorists group aim Americans and American international interests.

The bombings occurred between 10:30 am to 10.40 am. I remember at that time, I felt a tremor thinking it was an earthquake. That was about 35 minutes from the location I was in to the incident.

The embassy was partly damaged. A four story building next to the embassy was flattened. Many of the victims of the bomb died from being burried from the collapse of the building.

About 224 people died – more than 200 in Kenya. More than 4000 were wounded – about 85 in Tanzania. In Kenya, the vehicles that were near the bombing were burned and the passengers incinerated. Scores of people were maimed and blinded by flying glasses from shattered office buildings.

That was the first target of the little known al Qaeda that targeted American interests. In retaliation, about two weeks later the US launched cruise missiles targeting about six terrorist camps in Afghanistan.

When Kenya joined UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia (and also to fight terrorists who were in the habit of kidnapping tourists and foreigners in the country) has become a target of Al Shabaab. The northern part of Kenya receives the biggest blow of the attacks. 

That’s the sad reality of terrorism. Sympathizing with Americans at their memorial of the 9/11 terrorism attack.

May God protect us.