Algerian security forces intercepted two attempted terrorist attacks in Blida, approximately 50 kilometers from Algiers, during Pope Leo XIV's visit to the country.
The French news outlet Le Figaro reported that police disrupted the plots on the same day the pontiff arrived in the nation.
Security forces intercepted two men carrying explosives during the incident. Initial reports indicate that the authorities shot and killed the suspects.
Conflicting reports regarding the encounter continue to circulate. While some accounts state the two suicide bombers were neutralized, other reports claim the men successfully detonated their explosive belts.
Algerian authorities have not yet issued an official confirmation regarding the status of the suspects or the specific details of the confrontation. The incident marks the first significant security threat of this type in the nation since 2017.
Heavy police and military presence had been deployed across Algiers in anticipation of the papal visit.
Pope calls for justice and dignity
The visit to Algeria marks the first trip to the African continent for Pope Leo XIV. The pontiff's arrival follows recent criticisms of United States military involvement in Middle Eastern wars.
The Pope met with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Djamaa el Djazair convention center. During the meeting, he invited Algeria to leverage its history and experience to help "achieve greater justice among peoples."
The Pope emphasized that peace requires a departure from historical patterns of conflict. "By not multiplying misunderstandings and conflicts, but by respecting the dignity of each person and being moved by the pain of others, you can become protagonists of a new course in history," he stated.
He issued a warning regarding the current global political climate. He noted that this new historical course is "more urgent than ever" in the face of "continuous violations of international law and the temptations of neocolonialism."
The Pope also directed his remarks toward global political leaders. He argued that the role of authority is not to exert power over others.
"Authorities are called not to dominate, but to serve the people and their development," the Pope said.
He further asserted that the legitimacy of political action depends entirely on its commitment to fairness. "Political action finds its criterion in justice, without which there is no authentic peace," he added.
He concluded by stating that political action must focus on "the promotion of equitable and dignified conditions for all."
