At least 20 killed by suicide car bomb in Somalia
- The explosion, which also wounded 30 others, took place just outside a restaurant in the capital, Mogadishu
- The blast sent plumes of smoke into the sky and triggered gunfire
At least 20 people were killed and 30 wounded by a suicide car bomb just outside a restaurant near the port in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu late on Friday, an emergency services official said.
The blast sent plumes of smoke into the sky and triggered gunfire, witnesses and state-owned media reported.
“So far we have carried 20 dead people and 30 injured from the blast scene,” said Dr Abdulkadir Aden, founder of AAMIN Ambulance services.
The blast occurred at the Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port, witnesses said.
“A speeding car exploded at Luul Yemeni restaurant. I was going to the restaurant but ran back when the blast shook and covered the area with smoke,” said resident Ahmed Abdullahi, who lives near the site.
Somalia’s state-controlled Radio Mogadishu reported there was also destruction of property and that police had cordoned off the area.
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No one claimed responsibility for the blast.
Islamist group al-Shabab frequently carries out such bombings in Somalia and elsewhere as part of its campaign to topple the Horn of African country’s central government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.