A suicide bomber blew himself up late Saturday, Feb 9 night, the second such attack in this northern Malian city in recent days, residents and a Malian army officer said, according to The Associated Press.

The most recent attack occurred Saturday at about 11 pm at a checkpoint to enter the city, said Capt. Daouda Diarra. The bomber set off the explosive belt he was wearing, killing himself and injuring a Malian soldier, said Diarra.

The explosion occurred in the same place in Gao where an earlier suicide bomber killed himself on Friday morning.

A column of French tanks stood guard at the spot Sunday morning, preventing journalists and spectators from getting close to the site. The bomber's remains could be seen, including his head in a wheelbarrow and part of his torso in the road by the checkpoint.

Three grenades found near the scene were detonated.

"I am really afraid. You hear about these kinds of things in Pakistan or Afghanistan. Gao is becoming like Pakistan," said Maoue Dicko, 30, as he sat on his motorcycle.