Bomb blasts kill six, injure several in Somalia

Somali security officers cordon off the area of the wreckage of a rickshaw at the scene of an explosion on a bomb-rigged car that was parked on a road near the National Theatre in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia September 28, 2024. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Twin bomb blasts killed at least three people in Somalia on Saturday, officials said, noting that no group had taken responsibility for explosions in Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle, which also left scores of people critically injured.

The first blast targeted a restaurant in Mogadishu, killing at least three people and injuring three others, police said. The blast targeted Gel Doh restaurant in Hamarweyne, officials said, adding that the explosion took place near the National Theatre.

A vehicle carrying explosives was detonated near the restaurant, leading to the unfortunate deaths according to officials familiar with the incident. The injured people mostly innocent civilians were rushed to the nearby hospitals, police said in a report.

The National Theatre which is also somehow close to the Presidential Palace is frequented by senior government officials and security officers, who might have been the target of the executioners.

According to officials, the second explosion was recorded in Lower Shabelle where the Somali National Army, the local militia the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and the US Africa Command are involved in active operations.

The explosion left three people dead and scores injured according to security officials. Although the motives of the two explosions remain largely unknown, the Al-Shabab militants carry out similar attacks in the Horn of Africa nation.

Al-Shabaab group which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia but strong military resistance has kept it at bay. The group targets civilians, senior officials, and military teams in their attacks.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced total war against al-Shabaab and his initiative has left thousands of the militants dead for the last two years. The al-Shabaab has lost key strongholds in central and southern regions in the last two years.

GAROWE ONLINE