Is al-Qaida active in North Africa? That’s the worry in Algeria, after two explosions set off by suicide bombers Wednesday killed at least 24 people. The attacks targeted the prime minister’s office building in Algiers and a suburban police station.


L.A. Times:

Responsibility for the bombings was claimed by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, an Islamist group that has pledged loyalty to Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

“With a suicide attack in the heart of Algiers, you have an escalation to a new level,” said Jean-Louis Bruguiere, France’s top antiterrorism magistrate. “It’s unquestionably an attempt at destabilization and a sign of the emergence of Al Qaeda in the Maghreb as an organization.”

Read more

Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig