At least 13 killed by suicide bomber in central Somalia
Date
2/19/2022 7:11:26 PM
(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
At least 13 people have been killed in central Somalia on
Saturday after a suicide bomber detonated explosives in a
restaurant packed with local officials and politicians, Trend reports citing
Al Jazeera .
The dead were mostly civilians and 20 other people were wounded
in the town of Beledweyne, Police spokesman Dini Roble Ahmed said.
The blast caused“huge damage”, he added.
Witnesses said a large explosion tore through an open area of
the Hassan Dhiif restaurant where people gathered under trees to
eat lunch.
Police and government officials confirmed the restaurant attack
was the result of a suicide bomber, but did not give the number of
casualties.
The attack took place despite security being tightened in
Beledweyne on the eve of a first round of voting for parliamentary
seats in the constituency, 340km (210 miles) north of the capital
Mogadishu.
Two deputy district commissioners were among the dead, police
officer Mohamud Hassan said.“This was the deadliest attack I can
recall in this town.”
Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a
report by SITE intelligence, which monitors armed groups
online.
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