N'Djamena--Scores of police and soldiers patrolled Chad's capital N'Djamena on Tuesday, a day after twin suicide bombings blamed on Boko Haram jihadists killed 24 people and wounded more than 100 in the first such attacks in the city.
The security forces had sealed off the area around the presidential palace, as well as the police headquarters -- which was one of the bombers' targets.
Vehicles with tinted windows had been barred from the streets and cars travelling near mosques, churches and markets were routinely searched, AFP journalists reported.
Chad, which has taken a lead role this year in a regional offensive against the Islamist militants operating out of neighbouring Nigeria, had previously come under attack from Boko Haram in border areas.
But Monday's attacks, which targeted the police headquarters and a police academy, were the first in the capital, where they caused deep shock.
"It's terrible...I never would have thought that such a thing would happen in N'Djamena," Ali Gamane, an engineer working for the agriculture ministry, said.
Doctors at the city's Amitie hospital were struggling to cope with the influx of wounded.
"Many of the injured risk dying if the public doesn't come forward to donate blood," nurse Ache Zenaba warned.
Four "terrorists" were also killed in the blasts, according to the authorities, who gave no further details.
President Idriss Deby's government called for calm.
"These attacks, which aimed to strike fear into the people, will not slacken Chad's determination to combat terrorism," the government said, assuring the situation was "entirely under control."
Although Boko Haram has yet to claim responsibility for the bombings, both Chad and France, which relies heavily on N'Djamena in the fight against jihadist groups in the Sahel region, accused the militants of being behind the attack.
"There is no doubt that Boko Haram is responsible and will be brought to justice for this new humanitarian horror," French President Francois Hollande said during a visit to Algeria.
AFP
