Attack in Djibouti. Several members of European CSDP missions injured (v2)
(B2) Several members of the European missions EUCAP Nestor and EUNAVFOR Atalanta were injured in theattack against the restaurant La Chaumière, in Djibouti, Saturday (May 24) at 20 p.m.
This place, run by a former French soldier, is well known to expatriates in Djibouti. And at that time, 20 p.m., the restaurant was packed. It was then that the suicide bombers attacked the restaurant with grenades, some entering the place, according to the first elements of the investigation. The mission EUCAP Nestor has 3 wounded in these ranks, including 1 seriously. And the operation EUNAVOR Atalanta 9 soldiers, including 1 seriously.
Twenty injured
According to the latest report, the attack left three dead - including a Turkish national and one or two of the suicide bombers. There are also about twenty injured, some of them quite serious. According to a provisional count, among the injured: there are 7 French, 4 Germans, 3 Spaniards (air force) - including 1 serious - 6 Dutch (Marine). All were taken care of in particular by French military doctors from the "Bouffard" general hospital.
The three Spaniards wounded come from the P3 Orion detachment which provides anti-piracy aerial surveillance for the European operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta. One is " in serious but stable condition ” assures the Spanish Ministry of Defense in Madrid. First Sergeant Manuel Maria Lorenzana indeed suffers shrapnel wounds. While Corporals Manuel López Veiga and Jose Miguel Mateos Hernandez, " suffer from minor injuries and their condition is not serious ". A T-22 aircraft of the air force left on Saturday night from Torrejon Air Base in Spain to evacuate the three wounded.
The six Dutch serve on the frigate By Zeven Provinciën engaged in the EU anti-piracy operation (EUNAVFOR Atalanta) and which made a stopover in Djibouti. They were slightly injured (especially with shards of glass) and shocked. " They got back to their ship quickly and are doing very well assured the commander of the ship. As a precaution, the ship left Djibouti earlier than expected and returned to sea with the full crew. The frigate had just joined the European anti-piracy operation on May 19, after having embarked in Malta, a detachment of Maltese soldiers who act as an on-board protection team (VPD or EPE) on board merchant ships. .
Three Germans wounded were serving in the European Maritime Capability Enhancement Mission (EUCAP Nestor). One of them is more seriously affected (a woman), in the face, but " his life is not in danger “, says one well-informed source. They were repatriated by medical evacuation on Sunday evening to a German hospital.
Four French are employees of the company Sovereign Global Services (SGS), which provides training for the Djiboutian army, among them two French gendarmerie colonels, as my colleague points out Jean Guisnel point.
The High Representative of the EU, Catherine Ashton, quickly condemned the attack and addressed " all his thoughts to the victims and their families. And we wish a full and speedy recovery. » (*)
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
Read also: In Memoriam. Diplomats and soldiers who died on EC / EU missions
(*) “We strongly condemn the terrorist attack that targeted a restaurant in Djibouti Saturday evening. Our thoughts are with all the victims and their families, and we wish a full and speedy recovery to those injured, including several members of the EU missions EUCAP Nestor and EU NAVFOR Atalanta. Such attacks against innocent people can never be justified. Those responsible must be brought to justice and held accountable for their acts.
Updated Monday, May 26 - morning
