Fountain Plaza bombing
| Fountain Plaza bombing | |
|---|---|
 Rescue workers searching rubble for trapped survivors. | |
| Location |  Agalore, Aerla
|
| Date | 1733.14 AN |
| Attack type | Bombing |
| Weapon(s) | IEDs |
| Deaths | 23 |
| Injured | 85 |
| Perpetrator(s) | People's Revolutionary Armed Forces |
The Fountain Plaza bombing was a terrorist attack that took place in late 1733 AN when an bomb was detonated in an alleyway close to Fountain Plaza in Agalore, Aerla, resulting in the deaths of 23 and the wounding of a further 85. The attack was carried out by the People's Revolutionary Armed Forces, an armed breakaway of the People's Revolutionary Communist Party of Aerla in response to the sentencing of PRCPA's leader Constantine Veracek to a 20 year prison sentence for sedition,
Attack
At roughly 4:00 PM CMT+5, a bomb detonated in an alleyway connected to Fountain Plaza, a public square in Agalore known for its many tourist shops and cafes. The bomb itself was placed inside of a metal trashcan behind a small pharmacy. The bomb collapsed the building and damaged several nearby structures. The blast immediately killed two teenage boys who were walking through the alley at the time of the explosion. The resulting collapse of the nearby buildings caused a further 21 deaths and 85 injuries.
First responders arrived at the scene approximately a minute after the blast. Rescuers were able to commandeer construction equipment from a nearby building site to search the debris for trapped survivors. In the coming days, foreign aid workers from numerous countries such as Nouvelle Alexandrie, Oportia, and Natopia would assist in the search for survivors in what one firefighter called a "canyon of destruction." Fortunately, due to the around-the-clock work by both local and international aid workers, the number of survivors vastly surpassed initial estimates.
Perpetrators
In a video uploaded roughly 3 hours after the attack, a masked spokesperson for the People's Revolutionary Armed Forces claimed the bombing as a part of a "class war" against the Aerlan state and as an act of revenge for the sentencing of PRCPA leader Constantine Veracek to a 20 year prison sentence. They also warned that if Veracek wasn't granted amnesty, there would be "countless more attacks to come..."
Upon receiving word of the international condemnation of the attack, PRAF leader Emil Pachad stated in a video uploaded to social media stating "These threats will not dissuade us from continuing our struggle. We will fight to the last man and the last bullet."
Investigation
Soon after the initial wave of first responders arrived in the area, both Criminal Police and State Security Directorate officers descended on the area, hoping to find any trace of evidence. They initially struggled, as the area of the bomb blast was so completely destroyed that very little explosive materials were able to be found. In addition, all CCTV security cameras were destroyed along with their data banks.
However, with the assistance of Natopian forensic experts, pieces of an Improvised Explosive Device were found deep under the ruble that had been excavated earlier in the day. Another vital piece of evidence was found via a video uploaded to ClipWave in which a concerned individual recorded a masked individual dropping slabs of explosives into a trashcan. The uploader of the video stated that she had initially thought the slabs were some sort of illicit drug, and she recorded it to show police, luckily leaving the area before the explosion. The video unfortunately did not show any defining attributes of the individual, except he was around 1.6 m tall, wearing a camouflage coat, black gloves, goggles, and a construction respirator.
In the following days, police raided several houses and apartments will supposed links to the PRAF. In one raid on a hotel room in the south of the city, a cache of firearms, grenades, and explosive materials were found.
Domestic Reactions
Government Response
The following day, the National Assembly passed a resolution to declare the PRAF a terrorist organization. The city of Agalore declared a week-long state of emergency and period of mourning following the attack. The President of Aerla, Basil Fitzroy, spoke in a public address denouncing the attacks as "cowardly, foolish, and unacceptable" and offered his thoughts and prayers to the victims families, and vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
PRCPA Response
The interim leader of the PRCPA, James Lewiston, denounced the attack. Lewiston was a noted moderate, preferring a legitimate rise to power via democratic means rather than an armed struggle. He also stated that, in a phone call he had with Veracek, stated that the latter "had no interest in the bombing of innocents."
Lewiston would go on to expel Pachad and several of his associates from the PRCPA in response to the attack. Despite this, membership of the party began to sharply decline after the attack.
International Reactions
Floria: Floria condemned the bombings and President Hutchinson immediately declared People's Revolutionary Armed Forces as a terrorist organisation.
Lac Glacei: The Grand Duke issued a complete condemnation against the attack and urged Aerla to seek some common ground with the revolutionary forces to broker a peaceful de-escalation.
Moorland: King MacMartin condemned the terrorist attack and promised to send humanitarian aid to Aerla.
Nouvelle Alexandrie: Secretary of State Morissa Baumann condemned the terrorist attack in Agalore, Aerla, and pledged comprehensive support to help the Aerlan government address the aftermath. It was also announced that Nouvelle Alexandrie would provide emergency response teams and medical aid, in addition to designating the People's Revolutionary Armed Forces as a terrorist organization.
Natopia: Natopia expressed its vehement condemnation of the Fountain Plaza bombing and extended its condolences to the victims. The Natopian government has offered to send forensic experts to assist Aerla in the investigation and promised financial assistance would be available for rebuilding the affected community areas.
Oportia: Federal Representative Galilea Montijo strongly condemned the attack, labeling it "a cruel act against humanity". Oportian officials announced the provision of humanitarian aid and even counseling services to support the victims and their families, underscoring their commitment to stand with Aerla in the fight against terrorism.
Normark: A communique issued by the Kingdom of Normark declared membership of the People's Revolutionary Armed Forces on or after the date of 24.XV.1733 AN to be a criminal offence for which the offender would be liable to a period of ten years penal servitude. The condolences of His Majesty were conveyed to the government of Aerla in a private audience for that country's ambassador.
Mondosphere: Ermingander Village condemned the attack and expressed regret for the loss of life.
Constancia: The Imperial Constancian Government publicly condemned the attack, directed the State Protection Authority to assist in providing intelligence on the People's Revolutionary Armed Forces, and declared all their persons and properties forfeit if found within the Imperial State.
Vegno: The Government of Vegno and the President of the Republic of Vegno Orazio Torlo-Marani have publicly expressed their closeness to the citizens of Aerla and harshly condemned the terrorist group's attacks. The President of the Republic also offered the government of Aerla to send means of transport and structures from the San Lucido border to help the rescue of the survivors and to help the reconstruction of the buildings. Despite the strong requests of the Nationalist Vegnese Party, which called for the immediately closure of the borders, no measures have been taken in this sense by the Government.
