suicide bombing

State media said police had been chasing three suspected car bombers that were trying to enter the capital. Police stopped and detonated two of the vehicles, but the third driver entered Tahrir square in the east and blew himself up after he had been encircled in the area.

The authorities said the car bombs were meant target crowded areas of the capital on the first day back to work from the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The attack sends the strongest message yet to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani — that militants are still able to strike at his heavily fortified seat of power.

No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, though officials indicated they blamed the Taliban.

The Kuwait News Agency reported that those facing trial include seven Kuwaitis and 13 "illegal residents" — a reference to Kuwait's "bidoon" community that is made up largely of desert nomads considered stateless by the government. 

Also facing trial are five Saudis, three Pakistanis and a fugitive whose nationality is not yet known.

They face a range of charges such as illegally possessing explosives, incitement to violence and joining an extremist group.

It is the fourth suicide bombing this month in Maiduguri, which is the birthplace of the Boko Haram Islamic extremist group.

Fishmonger Idi Idrisa said one teenager exploded as she approached the mosque crowded with people from the nearby Baga Road fish market, performing afternoon prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

The second teen appeared to run away and blew up further away, killing only herself, he said.

Civilian defense fighter Sama Ila Abu said he counted at least 30 corpses as he helped collect the dead.