Explosion in Northern Togo Kills 7 Children
Togo’s Radio Television Motoag reported all victims were children and blamed explosion on improvised explosive device
Lomé — Reports from the West African nation of Togo say at least one explosion in the country’s north has killed seven children and wounded three others. Matteo Fraschini Koffi reports from Togo's capital, Lome. Togo’s army says it is investigating after the blast in the country’s north Tone prefecture on Saturday night. Togo’s Radio Television Motoag reported all the victims were children and blamed the explosion on an improvised explosive device. Togo’s military on Sunday confirmed seven people were killed in a blast but gave no details on their ages or what caused the explosion. Some reports coming out of Togo said there were two blasts. Michel Douti is an independent security expert working with Togo’s Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Prevention and Fight Against Violent Extremism (CIPLEV). The explosions are confirmed, he said. But the nature of the explosions is not yet confirmed. Tone prefecture is in Togo’s Savanes Region, on the border with Burkina Faso, where fighting with Islamist militants spilled over the border in May. Al-Qaida affiliated militants killed eight Togolese soldiers and wounded 13 in Togo’s first casualties in the conflict. Togo’s government in June declared a state of emergency in the northern region.