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Somalia: At least 85 dead in Mogadishu blasts Somalia: At least 85 dead in Mogadishu blasts
(about 1 hour later)
A massive bomb attack in a busy area of the Somali capital Mogadishu has killed at least 85 people, officials say.A massive bomb attack in a busy area of the Somali capital Mogadishu has killed at least 85 people, officials say.
Dozens more were wounded when a lorry packed with explosives detonated near the entrance of a hotel. Dozens more were wounded when a lorry packed with explosives detonated near the entrance of a hotel on Saturday.
Police say two people were killed in a second bomb attack in the Madina district of the city. It is one of the deadliest attacks in Somalia since the Islamist al-Shabab group launched its insurgency in 2007.
It is not clear who staged the attacks. Mogadishu is a regular target for the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab group, which is battling the government. It is not clear who staged the attacks. Mogadishu is a regular target for al-Shabab, which is battling the government.
President Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" Mohamed has declared three days of mourning for the victims of the blast.President Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" Mohamed has declared three days of mourning for the victims of the blast.
Local media reported families were gathering in the area on Sunday morning, looking for missing loved ones amidst the ruins of one of the largest bombs ever to strike the city. Local media reported families gathering in the area on Sunday morning, looking for missing loved ones amidst the ruins of one of the largest bombs ever to strike the city.
Police say two people were killed in a second bomb attack in the Madina district of the city.
After the first blast, police captain Mohamed Hussein told Reuters news agency: "It was a truck bomb. There are casualties but we do not know the exact amount as the scene is still burning."After the first blast, police captain Mohamed Hussein told Reuters news agency: "It was a truck bomb. There are casualties but we do not know the exact amount as the scene is still burning."
Witnesses told the BBC they believed dozens of people were dead.
A BBC Somali reporter at the scene said the Safari Hotel had collapsed, with people thought to be trapped under the rubble.A BBC Somali reporter at the scene said the Safari Hotel had collapsed, with people thought to be trapped under the rubble.
Mogadishu resident Muhidin Ali told news agency AFP it was "the biggest blast I have ever witnessed, it destroyed the whole area".Mogadishu resident Muhidin Ali told news agency AFP it was "the biggest blast I have ever witnessed, it destroyed the whole area".