Two suicide bombings struck Blida province, near the Algerian capital, on Monday in a security escalation that coincided with Pope Leo XIV's official visit to the country, according to on the ground testimonies, and media reports.

Early French media reports said two attackers blew themselves up near the city's central police station, were killed at the scene and wounded at least one police officer. Algerian authorities have not yet provided information about the attack.

The first explosion reportedly targeted the security directorate in the center of Blida city, followed by a second suicide bombing near a food industry company in the same province.

The attacks occurred on the same day Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria at the invitation of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, marking the first papal visit to the country as part of his current African tour.

Attacks of this kind have become rare since the years of AQIM violence and the longer shadow of the "Black Decade" civil war, which left around 200,000 dead.

A suicide bombing near the Mali border in 2020 was described at the time as the first such attack in several years.