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Somalia attack: 165 unidentified bodies buried | Somalia attack: 165 unidentified bodies buried |
(about 20 hours later) | |
As many as 165 unidentified bodies have been buried after a massive truck bomb attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday. | As many as 165 unidentified bodies have been buried after a massive truck bomb attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday. |
At least 276 people have died and the government news agency Sonna says only 111 of them have been identified. | At least 276 people have died and the government news agency Sonna says only 111 of them have been identified. |
A Turkish military plane is taking 40 of the injured to Turkey for medical treatment. | A Turkish military plane is taking 40 of the injured to Turkey for medical treatment. |
It is the deadliest terror attack in Somalia since the Islamist al-Shabab group launched its insurgency in 2007. | It is the deadliest terror attack in Somalia since the Islamist al-Shabab group launched its insurgency in 2007. |
Some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition. | Some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition. |
The country does not have a public health record database, and does not have the means to identify people using DNA. | |
Of those who were identified, one of the victims was a medical student who was due to graduate the next day. | Of those who were identified, one of the victims was a medical student who was due to graduate the next day. |
Her father had flown to Mogadishu to attend her graduation but instead witnessed her burial. | Her father had flown to Mogadishu to attend her graduation but instead witnessed her burial. |
No group has yet said it was behind the bombing at a busy junction, destroying hotels, government offices and restaurants. | No group has yet said it was behind the bombing at a busy junction, destroying hotels, government offices and restaurants. |
But President Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" Mohamed blamed al-Shabab, calling it a "heinous act". | But President Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" Mohamed blamed al-Shabab, calling it a "heinous act". |
Al-Shabab, which is allied to al-Qaeda, and which often attacks Mogadishu, normally claims them fairly quickly afterwards. | Al-Shabab, which is allied to al-Qaeda, and which often attacks Mogadishu, normally claims them fairly quickly afterwards. |
On Sunday, some Somalis took to the streets of Mogadishu to condemn the group. | On Sunday, some Somalis took to the streets of Mogadishu to condemn the group. |
Maryam Abdullahi had been due to graduate as a doctor the following day. | Maryam Abdullahi had been due to graduate as a doctor the following day. |
Ms Abdullah's sister Anfa'a told the BBC Somali Service that she was devastated. | Ms Abdullah's sister Anfa'a told the BBC Somali Service that she was devastated. |
"The family is so shocked, especially our father who travelled all the way from London to attend her graduation, but instead he attended her burial." | "The family is so shocked, especially our father who travelled all the way from London to attend her graduation, but instead he attended her burial." |
Anfa'a said she had spoken to her sister 20 minutes before the blast. | Anfa'a said she had spoken to her sister 20 minutes before the blast. |
"At that time she was in Banadir Hospital where she was working. She told me she was waiting for some files from the hospital and she promised to call back". | "At that time she was in Banadir Hospital where she was working. She told me she was waiting for some files from the hospital and she promised to call back". |
A BBC Somali reporter at the scene of the main blast said the Safari hotel collapsed with people trapped under the rubble. | A BBC Somali reporter at the scene of the main blast said the Safari hotel collapsed with people trapped under the rubble. |
An eyewitness, local resident Muhidin Ali, told AFP it was "the biggest blast I have ever witnessed, it destroyed the whole area". | An eyewitness, local resident Muhidin Ali, told 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. | Meanwhile, the director of the Madina Hospital, Mohamed Yusuf Hassan, said he was shocked by the scale of the attack. |
"What happened yesterday was incredible, I have never seen such a thing before, and countless people lost their lives. Corpses were burned beyond recognition." | "What happened yesterday was incredible, I have never seen such a thing before, and countless people lost their lives. Corpses were burned beyond recognition." |