Islamists claim attack on UN

An ISLAMIST sect has claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on the United Nations headquarters in Nigeria that killed 23 people, demanding the release of prisoners and an end to a security crackdown to prevent further bombings.

Boko Haram, which has been behind shootings and attacks with homemade bombs in the remote northeast, was the prime suspect in Friday’s car bombing of the UN’s Abuja office.

“We are responsible for the bomb attack carried out on the UN building in Abuja,” a Boko Haram statement said.