Incident Summary:

11/13/1999: A bomb exploded in the engine of an Ethio-Djibuti Railway Company train traveling from Dire Dawa to Addis Abba, Ethiopia. Two train engineers were killed in the attack and extensive damaged to the train was suffered.

GTD ID:
199911130001

When:
1999-11-13

Country:
Ethiopia

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Somali

City:
Dire Dawa

Location Details:
The incident occurred in Dire Dawa city

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity
Specific Description Conductors and assistant conductors (injured)
Nationality of Target
Target Type: Transportation
Name of Entity Ethio-Djibuti Railway Company
Specific Description Ethio-Djibuti Railway Company train traveling from Dire Dawa to Addis Abba, Ethiopia
Nationality of Target Multinational
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Major (likely > $1 million but < $1 billion)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Unknown Explosive Type
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information All 300 passengers on board the train survived the blast. This attack was the second train bombing in Ethiopia in 1999; the first was in August 1999.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Al-Ittihaad al-Islami (AIAI) (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 2 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 2
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
“Ethiopian Government Statement Reviews 18 Months Of Conflict With Eritrea,” Financial Times Information, November 13, 1999.
“2 Killed In Train Bomb Blast In Ethiopia,” Xinhua General News Service, November 13, 1999.
“2 Killed In Train Bomb Blast In Ethiopia,” Financial Times Information, November 14, 1999.