Somalia: Suicide attack kills 6 in Mogadishu, hurts mayor

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least six people were killed and several others wounded in a suicide explosion in Mogadishu, the Somali capital on Wednesday, the 24th July 2019, Garowe Online reports.

Somalia's minister of information, Mohamed Abdi Hayir confirmed the death toll, saying an unspecified number, including the mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman Yarisow sustained critical wounds in the attack.

Two district commissioners and three directors are among the dead, he said.

The Al-Qaeda-linked extremist group, Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack which was carried out by a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives inside the city's municipality HQs during a key meeting.

The group said in a statement the bomber was targeting the UN's new envoy for Somalia, James Swan who paid a visit to the headquarters early in the day and left the area shortly before the attack. 

Wednesday's deadly attack was the second in the long-chaotic capital in two days which happen amid tight security measures and more security checkpoints erected in the main streets.

Last Monday, at least 17 people have been killed and dozens injured in a car bomb attack at a key security checkpoint for the city's main airport which is protected by AU troops.

In mid this month, July 12, Al-Shabaab carried out a car and gun attack at a hotel in the southern port city of Kismayo, killing 26 people, among them two journalists, a candidate for Jubaland state presidency and entrepreneurs. 

GAROWE ONLINE