6 dead, 13 others injured in two bombings in Somalia

A car bomb that killed three people and injured seven others at a restaurant in the busy street of Maka al Mukaram.(Courtesy)

MOGADISHU—At least six people were killed and 13 others were wounded in two separate bombings near Somali’s capital, Mogadishu on Sunday.

The first suicide car bomb blast killed three people and injured four others, when it exploded near the gate of a military base in Afgoye town, 30km northwest of the Capital.

Deputy Governor of Lower Shabelle region Ali Nur Mohamed told the local media that all victims were government soldiers.

Hours later, another car bomb killed three people and injured seven at a restaurant in the busy street of Maka al Mukaram.

Speaking to reporters Mogadishu Municipality Spokesman Salah Dhere condemned the attack that he said was targeting innocent civilians.

“The blast targeted our innocent citizens, we condemn this horror act from the enemy of our people,” said Dhere.

Major Abdullahi Hussein, a police officer, told reporters “a car bomb exploded at a parking in front of the restaurant.”

The front of the restaurant had been destroyed, blood stained the floor and chairs had been scattered around by the blast.

According to the group’s radio arm, Andalus,  Al Shabaab were behind the bombing. The Somalia’s Islamic extremist rebels claimed responsibility for the first suicide car bomb blast at Afgoye.

Al Shabaab often targets the capital with deadly attacks. In October 2017,  the group was responsible for one of the bloodiest single terrorist attacks since 2001 when a bomb killed more than 500

This comes after four Al Shabaab militiamen were last week killed in a fresh airstrike conducted by U.S forces 74 miles Northwest of Mogadishu.