Guinea: Grenade Explosion Kills Three During AFCON Match Celebration
By BBC News Africa
Conakry – January 2015
Three people were killed and several others injured in Guinea after a grenade exploded in a crowded bar during celebrations for the national team’s opening goal in their Africa Cup of Nations match against Ivory Coast.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday evening in a neighbourhood of Conakry, the capital, as fans were gathered to watch the match. The area was experiencing a power outage, prompting many residents to flock to bars equipped with generators.
“We were all celebrating Guinea’s goal when we heard a loud explosion in the bar,” said a witness. “It was full of viewers at the time because there was no electricity in the area.”
Local authorities confirmed that three people were killed in the blast, which occurred just moments after Mohamed Yattara scored in the 36th minute to give Guinea the lead. According to medical sources, around ten others were injured, several of them seriously.
Dr Salifou Camara, who treated the victims, told AFP that some sustained life-threatening injuries. Emergency responders rushed the wounded to nearby hospitals, while security forces cordoned off the scene.
Initial investigations by the Guinean gendarmerie revealed that the explosion was likely caused by a civilian who had recently come into possession of a grenade. Authorities say the suspect was under the influence of alcohol when he detonated the explosive device on the bar floor.
“He had only had the grenade for a few days,” a gendarmerie spokesperson explained. “It was under the influence of alcohol that he threw it on the ground, and it exploded.”
The motive for the act remains unclear, but authorities have launched a full investigation. Security forces are said to be examining how the civilian obtained the grenade and whether any further risk exists to public safety.
The incident has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory evening for Syli National fans, who had hoped to see their team make a strong start to their Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Officials have called for calm in the aftermath of the tragedy and have urged citizens to remain vigilant. The Guinean government is expected to issue a formal statement as more information becomes available.
