Bomb blast hits central Somalia town

DHUSAMAREB, Somalia – A huge explosion was heard at a crowded tea shop in central Somalia, killing one soldier and wounding five other people, becoming the second attack in the country in a week, Garowe Online reports.

The blast resulted from an explosive device apparently planted inside a teashop near Galmudug administration's headquarters in Dhusamareb, the provincial capital of Galgaduud in the early hours on Sunday morning.

“One soldier died in the attack and five others, including Galmudug MP and the owner of the cafe sustained wounds in the blast and admitted to hospital for treatment,” Aden Osman, a security official, told Garowe Online by phone.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. However, Somalia-based Al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic extremist insurgents, Al-Shabab, often carry out such attacks.

The attack shattered years of calm in the city which is hosting Somali PM Hassan Ali Khaire who has been there in the past days for talks with local politicians and tribal elders over next Galmudug polls.

On Saturday, July 13, the premier received Qatari defense officials in the town who then toured the Somali military 21st division base to assess the training of recently integrated local militia into the army.

Al-Shabab has claimed Friday’s car bomb and gun attack at a hotel in the southern port city of Kismayo, where the attackers holed up for all-night hours and shot dead 26 people, including well-known figures.

GAROWE ONLINE