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Somalia: several killed in Mogadishu truck bomb Somalia: deadly truck bombing in Mogadishu
(about 1 hour later)
At least six people have died in Mogadishu after a truck bomb detonated in a busy district of the Somali capital that is home to hotels, shops, restaurants and government offices. At least 20 people have died in Mogadishu after a truck bomb detonated in a busy district of the Somali capital that is home to hotels, shops, restaurants and government offices.
The truck was being trailed by security forces on KM4 street in Hodan district when it exploded on Saturday, police captain Mohamed Hussein told the Associated Press. It is believed that the target was a hotel. Security forces were trailing the truck on KM4 street in Hodan district when it exploded on Saturday, police captain Mohamed Hussein told the Associated Press. It is believed the target was a hotel. At least 15 people were injured.
AP reported that six people were killed in the bomb blast, although Reuters reported Hussein as saying that the number of casualties was unknown, “as the scene is still burning”. The explosion left a trail of destruction across a busy intersection, and the windows of nearby buildings were shattered.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although the Islamist al-Shabaab group has carried out regular attacks. The al-Qaida-allied organisation is waging an insurgency to topple the weak UN-backed government and its African Union allies. “There was a traffic jam and the road was packed with bystanders and cars,” said Abdinur Abdulle, a waiter at a nearby restaurant. “It’s a disaster.”
Another witness, Ismail Yusuf, told Agence France-Presse: “This was very horrible, the bomb went off alongside the busy road and left many people dead. I saw several dead bodies strewn about but could not count them. It was horrible.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Islamist al-Shabaab group has carried out regular attacks. The organisation, which is allied to al-Qaida, is waging an insurgency to topple the weak UN-backed government and its African Union allies.
The attack comes two days after the head of the US Africa command was in Mogadishu to meet Somalia’s president.The attack comes two days after the head of the US Africa command was in Mogadishu to meet Somalia’s president.
Al-Shabaab has in recent years lost most of the territory it previously controlled to African Union peacekeepers and government troops. Al-Shabaab has lost most of the territory it controlled to African Union peacekeepers and government troops in recent years, backed by US drone attacks.
But they frequently launch deadly gun, grenade and bomb attacks in high-profile areas of Mogadishu and other regions controlled by the federal government. Many attacks are aimed at military bases but some also target civilians. The militants still launch frequent deadly gun, grenade and bomb attacks in high-profile areas of Mogadishu and other regions controlled by the federal government. Many attacks are aimed at military bases, but some have targeted civilians.