Foreign Office Updates Travel Guidance Following Algerian Explosions
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a new travel warning for Algeria after reports of explosions in the town of Blida. The updated guidance was released late on Monday, April 13, 2026, advising British nationals to exercise heightened caution.
Details of the Incident and Security Alert
According to the FCDO, there are reports of an explosion that occurred on April 13 in Blida, a province near the Algerian capital. The office stated that British citizens in the area should remain vigilant at all times and adhere to instructions from local security authorities. This alert coincides with two suicide bombings in Blida province, which took place during Pope Leo XIV's official visit to Algeria at the invitation of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
The first explosion reportedly targeted the security directorate in central Blida city, followed by a second suicide bombing near a food industry company in the same province. Early French media reports indicate that two attackers detonated explosives near the city's central police station, resulting in their deaths and injuring at least one police officer. Algerian authorities have not yet released official information regarding the attack.
Travel Insurance and Safety Recommendations
The FCDO emphasizes that traveling against its advice could invalidate travel insurance. It advises against all travel to within 30 kilometers of Algeria's borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Tunisia, specifically in the provinces of Illizi and Ouargla and the Chaambi mountains area. Additionally, it recommends against all but essential travel to within 30 kilometers of the rest of Algeria's border with Tunisia.
For those who choose to travel, the FCDO urges thorough research of destinations and securing appropriate travel insurance that covers itineraries, planned activities, and emergency expenses. This guidance is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of UK tourists abroad.
