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Report: At least 21 dead after World Cup viewing party bombing in Nigeria

Boko Haram has threatened World Cup viewing parties in Nigeria, but the group has not taken credit for the attack.

By Evan Bleier
Forward Neymar of Brazil. A suicide bomber in Nigeria targeted a viewing party during Brazil's match against Mexico in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (File/UPI/Brian Kersey)
Forward Neymar of Brazil. A suicide bomber in Nigeria targeted a viewing party during Brazil's match against Mexico in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (File/UPI/Brian Kersey) | License Photo

DAMATURU, Nigeria, June 18 (UPI) -- More details are starting to trickle in about the suicide bombing that occurred during a World Cup viewing party in Nigeria on Tuesday.

According to the BBC, at least 21 people were killed in Damaturu when a suicide bomber in a tricycle taxi set off explosives during Brazil's match against Mexico. At least 27 people are believed to have been seriously injured

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Boko Haram has threatened World Cup viewing parties in Nigeria and they have been banned in certain parts of the country. At this point, no group has claimed credit for the attack.

Other outlets are reporting fewer casualties, but the BBC reports that a hospital worker said that he had "personally counted 21 bodies."

Soccer has been deemed an un-Islamic activity by Boko Haram.

Although no group claimed credit for it, a similar attack on June 1 killed at least 14 people who were watching a soccer match on television at a bar in Adamawa.

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