At least a dozen people are reported dead after a car bomb explosion in Mogadishu, Somali’s capital. The bomb exploded at a popular shopping more leaving several others wounded. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack. The terror group said on its website that the attack was aimed at a gathering of government officials and security and intelligence personnel.
Death toll rises to 12 in a car bombing in Somali capital Mogadishu on Monday https://t.co/jaYBIiGUpI pic.twitter.com/bUH52ctVbh
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) February 4, 2019
“There was a strong explosion at the Hamarweyne market,” said police officer Ibrahim Mohamed.
“We have no details for now but the area where the blast happened is a densely populated market,” he added.
This follows a major terror attack carried out by Al-Shabaab in nighboring Kenya’s capital where at least 21 people were killed when militants from the terror group laid siege at the Dusit D2 compound.
“There was a strong explosion at the Hamarweyne market,” said police officer Ibrahim Mohamed.
“We have no details for now but the area where the blast happened is a densely populated market,” he added.
BREAKING: Heavy explosion reported in Mogadishu. A resident says explosion occurred in the area around Mogadishu shopping Mall, near the local municipality HQs. pic.twitter.com/cXAsfbmXJg
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) February 4, 2019
Speaking to Xinhua, a police officer who requested anonymity said, “We found more bodies under the rubble and the death toll now stands at 12. We don’t know if there will be other bodies but we are trying to recover those missing.”
“The blast was so huge and we have seen huge smoke rising above the site of the explosion,” another witness indicated.
“Several dead people were removed from a wrecked building at the blast scene. So far death toll is 11 civilians and 10 others injured,” a police officer Mohamed Hussein told Reuters news agency.
“The blast occurred close to Mogadishu mall and it has caused death and destruction…” another police officer Ahmed Moalin Ali said while adding, “The terrorists parked a vehicle loaded with explosives in the vicinity of the mall to kill the innocent civilians.”
This attack follows a security alert issued to by the US Embassy in Nairobi to its citizens warning them to be cautious of a possible terrorism activities in Kenya.