1998 United States embassy bombings
Truck bombsTruck bombsDar es Salaam, Tanzania, Nairobi, Kenya
| File:1998 United States embassy bombings.jpg | |
| Date | 7 August 1998 |
|---|---|
| Location | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Nairobi, Kenya |
| Type | Truck bombs |
| Deaths | 257 |
| Injured (non-fatal) | 5,000 |
| Description | A pair of simultaneous explosions in Kenya and Tanzania, blamed on Al Qaeda. |
| Blamed on | Al Qaeda |
The 1998 United States embassy bombings were a pair of simultaneous explosions in Kenya and Tanzania.[1]
Official narrative
The bombings were scheduled for 7 August 1998, the eighth anniversary of the arrival of US troops in Saudi Arabia during the early stages of the First Gulf War, likely a choice by Osama bin Laden.
When bin Laden's bodyguard asked him after the attacks whether so many victims were really necessary, he replied referring to al-Qaeda's 1996 and 1998 fatwas declaring war on America and Israel:
"We warned the whole world what would happen to the friends of America. We weren't responsible for any victims from the minute we warned those countries."[2]
Indictment
Following the investigation, an indictment was issued. It charges the following 21 people for various alleged roles in the bombings.[3]
20 of the cases have been resolved.
- Osama bin Laden Killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan on May 2, 2011
- Muhammad Atef Killed in Kabul, Afghanistan on November 14, 2001
- Ayman al-Zawahiri Killed in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 31, 2022
- Saif al-Adel Fugitive
- Mamdouh Mahmud Salim Serving a life sentence without parole in the United States
- Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah Killed in Tehran, Iran on August 7, 2020
- Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah Killed in Naghar Kalai, Pakistan on April 12, 2006
- Khalid al-Fawwaz Serving a life sentence without parole in the United States
- Wadih al-Hage Serving a life sentence without parole in the United States
- Anas al-Liby Died in 2015 while awaiting trial in the United States
- Ibrahim Eidarous Died in 2008 while under house arrest in the United Kingdom
- Adel Abdel Bari Served a sentence of 25 years imprisonment in the United States
- Fazul Abdullah Mohammed Killed in Mogadishu, Somalia by Somali government troops on June 7, 2011
- Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali Killed in Pakistan in 2010
- Mohammed Sadeek Odeh Serving a life sentence without parole in the United States
- Mohamed Rashed Daoud al-'Owhali Serving a life sentence without parole in the United States
- Mustafa Mohamed Fadhil Killed in Afghanistan (date of death unknown)
- Khalfan Khamis Mohamed Serving a life sentence without parole in the United States
- Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani Serving a life sentence without parole in the United States
- Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam Killed in Pakistan on January 1, 2009
- Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan Killed in Pakistan on January 1, 2009