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Somalia: At least 85 dead in Mogadishu blasts Somalia: At least 137 dead in Mogadishu blasts
(35 minutes 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 on Saturday is now known to have killed at least 137 people, police say.
Dozens more were wounded when a lorry packed with explosives detonated near the entrance of a hotel on Saturday. Hundreds more were wounded when a lorry packed with explosives detonated near the entrance of a hotel.
It is one of the deadliest attacks in Somalia since the Islamist al-Shabab group launched its insurgency in 2007.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 al-Shabab, which is battling the government. It is not clear who staged the bombing, but Mogadishu is a target for al-Shabab militants 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 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 amid 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. Police official Ibrahim Mohamed told AFP news agency the death toll is likely to rise. "There are more than 300 wounded, some of them seriously," he said.
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." Officials also confirmed that two people were killed in a second bomb attack in the Madina district of the city.
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 of the main blast said the Safari Hotel had collapsed, with people 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". An eyewitness, local resident Muhidin Ali, told news agency AFP it was "the biggest blast I have ever witnessed, it destroyed the whole area".
Meanwhile, the director of the Madina Hospital, Mohamed Yusuf Hassan, said he was shocked by the scale of the attack.
"Seventy two wounded people were admitted to the hospital and 25 of them are in very serious condition. Others lost their hands and legs at the scene.
"What happened yesterday was incredible, I have never seen such a thing before, and countless people lost their lives. Corpses were burned beyond recognition."