At least 13 people, including young children, were killed when a suicide bomber detonated a tricycle taxi packed with explosives at an outdoor World Cup viewing center in a northeastern Nigerian city Tuesday night, witnesses said.
Hospital workers said the death toll will likely rise, with 12 people critically wounded and casualties still coming in to the main hospital at Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state.
Police Assistant Superintendent Nathan Cheghan confirmed the explosion, and said rescue workers were being careful for fear of secondary blasts. Fighters from the militant group Boko Haram have previously used secondary explosions to kill people who rush to the scene of a bomb attack.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which some witnesses blamed on Boko Haram fighters who have targeted football viewing centers and sports bars in the past. Two explosions in recent weeks killed at least 40 people in two northern cities.
Witnesses said the tricycle taxi was driven into the outdoor area soon after the Brazil-Mexico match started Tuesday night. All spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Nigeria's military has promised increased security, but appears incapable of halting a stream of attacks by Boko Haram fighters who have been holding more than 250 schoolgirls hostage since April.
Al Jazeera and wire services
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