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Gunmen launch deadly attack on Somalia courthouse | |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 20 people have been killed in a series of bomb and gun attacks in the Somalian capital, Mogadishu. | |
More than 16 people are believed to have died after gunmen stormed the city's main court buildings, shooting and setting off explosions. | |
Later a car bomb was detonated on the road to the airport, killing four, including two Turkish aid workers and the attacker. | |
There have also been reports of a third attack in an unconfirmed location. | |
It is not clear who carried out the attacks, but most in Mogadishu are blamed on Islamic militant group al-Shabab, which has links with al-Qaeda. | It is not clear who carried out the attacks, but most in Mogadishu are blamed on Islamic militant group al-Shabab, which has links with al-Qaeda. |
BBC reporter Mohamed Ibrahim at the scene says armed intruders entered the court in Mogadishu and began firing, after which there was an explosion. | BBC reporter Mohamed Ibrahim at the scene says armed intruders entered the court in Mogadishu and began firing, after which there was an explosion. |
A gunfight followed as security forces exchanged fire with the attackers. | |
Witnesses said at least one car bomb was used in the attack. | |
Aid workers killed | |
"Armed men entered the court and then we heard a blast. Then they started opening fire," witness Hussein Ali, who works at the courts, told Reuters news agency. | "Armed men entered the court and then we heard a blast. Then they started opening fire," witness Hussein Ali, who works at the courts, told Reuters news agency. |
Other witnesses said the attackers were dressed in Somali military uniform, and also reported a second explosion. | Other witnesses said the attackers were dressed in Somali military uniform, and also reported a second explosion. |
People were seen trying to escape the violence from the upper floors of the court buildings by breaking windows and climbing out of the building. | People were seen trying to escape the violence from the upper floors of the court buildings by breaking windows and climbing out of the building. |
Our reporter says the courts are located in one of the busiest parts of the city, and were full of people when the attacks happened - Sunday is a normal working day in Somalia. | Our reporter says the courts are located in one of the busiest parts of the city, and were full of people when the attacks happened - Sunday is a normal working day in Somalia. |
A second car bomb was detonated later, outside a building housing security forces on the road to the airport. | |
It was set off as a convoy carrying Turkish aid workers passed, killing two of them. | |
Security has improved in Mogadishu since al-Shabab withdrew from the city in August 2011, but the group's fighters still launch attacks. | Security has improved in Mogadishu since al-Shabab withdrew from the city in August 2011, but the group's fighters still launch attacks. |
The al-Qaeda-aligned insurgents have been forced out of main towns but still control most villages and rural areas. | The al-Qaeda-aligned insurgents have been forced out of main towns but still control most villages and rural areas. |
For more than 20 years Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, rival politicians and Islamist militants battling for control of the country. | For more than 20 years Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, rival politicians and Islamist militants battling for control of the country. |