The city of Blida, located 40 km from the capital Algiers, was shaken on Monday by two suicide attacks of rare violence, which occurred during the official visit of Pope Leon XIV to Algeria. A highly symbolic timing that highlights the persistent flaws in the country’s security apparatus.
According to initial reports, a first attacker blew himself up near a security forces site in the city center, killing police officers and leaving several others seriously injured. Moments later, a second explosion targeted an industrial facility in the same region, spreading panic among residents. Images circulated on social media show extreme violence and chaos that proved difficult to contain.
Beyond the human toll, these attacks raise serious questions about the ability of the Algerian regime to guarantee the safety of its citizens, including during highly sensitive international events. Despite a massive deployment of security forces and the declaration of a maximum alert state, these measures appear to be late reactions to a deeply rooted threat.
These events illustrate a broader security malaise. Behind official statements, the reality appears marked by latent instability, where the risk of attacks remains present. The contrast is all the more striking as these incidents come at the very moment authorities are seeking to project an image of stability and control.
An investigation has been opened, but for many observers, these tragedies are not isolated incidents. Rather, they reflect the limits of a system struggling to contain security threats in a lasting way, leaving an atmosphere of troubling uncertainty hanging over the population.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv