On June 16, 2011, a suicide car bombing at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja killed at least two people.
Abu Zaid, claiming to speak for Boko Haram, told BBC Hausa the group was responsible. The group has campaigned for wider application of Islamic law in Nigeria.
Force spokesperson Olusola Amore confirmed the deaths: the bomber and a traffic officer who guided the vehicle into the parking lot were both killed when the car exploded on Thursday.
Amore said the bomber’s body was recovered and a full investigation had started.
A source at the scene described dozens of vehicles gutted by fire and rescue workers carrying out “pieces of mutilated bodies.”
Nigerian Red Cross spokesman Umar Mairiga said seven people were hospitalized, two of whom were later discharged.
He noted the death toll was still unclear.
Police reported 33 cars destroyed and 40 more damaged.
