Incident Summary:

06/17/2012: A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle outside of the Shalom Church in Trikania area, Zaria city, Kaduna state, Nigeria. This was one of three coordinated attacks against churches in the area. At least 19 people were killed and another 80 injured across all three explosions. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the incidents, stating that Christians were destroying mosques.

GTD ID:
201206170004

When:
2012-06-17

Country:
Nigeria

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Kaduna

City:
Zaria

Location Details:
Trikania

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity Shalom Church
Specific Description Church
Nationality of Target Nigeria
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Vehicle
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?Yes
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Nineteen were killed and eighty were injured in the three church bombings. The figures were divided between three cases for statistical accuracy.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Boko Haram Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Personal claim)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 7 Fatalities / 26 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 7
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 1
Total Number of Injured 26
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Nigeria leader's absence during clashes irks some," Reuters News, June 20, 2012.
"36 dead in Nigeria church attacks, rioting," Agence France Presse -- English, June 17, 2012.
"44 dead in three Nigeria church bombings," CNN Wire, June 17, 2012.