At least nine civilians were killed and more than 60 injured in a triple suicide bomb attack in the central Mali town of Sévaré early on Saturday, an official has said.
“The blast destroyed about 20 houses in the neighbourhood. There are a total of nine dead and about 60 wounded, all civilians,” said Yacouba Maiga, a spokesperson for the regional governor.
Earlier on Saturday, the country’s government said in a statement read on national television that “a terrorist attack” had been stopped by the army in Sévaré.
“Three vehicles filled with explosives were destroyed by army drone fire,” the statement said, without giving details on casualties.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
Images shared on social media showed several buildings, including a petrol station, destroyed by the blast, as well as injured people being given assistance. Reuters could not independently verify the images.