Somalia terror attack: At least 20 people killed and 30 wounded in Mogadishu

At least 20 people killed and 30 wounded in Somalia as Islamist terrorists detonate rickshaw loaded with explosives outside a popular restaurant in the capital Mogadishu

  • ‘At least 20 people were killed and 30 wounded’ in a suicide bombing in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu
  • Police said a three-wheeler rickshaw was packed with explosives when it hit Luul Yemeni restaurant
  • Witnesses and state-owned media said the blast sent plumes of smoke into the sky and triggered gunfire
  • Attack was claimed by Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab terror group in its war against the Somalian government 
  • Thousands of government forces are deployed in anticipation of planned opposition protest on Saturday

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At least 20 people were killed and 30 wounded in a suicide bombing outside a restaurant near the port in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu late on Friday, emergency services said. 

Somalian police said a three-wheeler rickshaw, fitted to carry a load on the back, had been packed with explosives when it hit the popular Luul Yemeni restaurant at dinner time.

Witnesses and state-owned media said the blast sent plumes of smoke into the sky and triggered gunfire, while at least one building near the restaurant collapsed, with people feared to be trapped in the rubble. The blast occurred at dinner time when the restaurant was full. 

The attack was claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab terror group, which has been waging a long and violent insurgency seeking to unseat the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu.  

Security in Mogadishu had been especially heavy, with thousands of government forces deployed in anticipation of a planned demonstration on Saturday by an alliance of opposition leaders over the country’s delayed national election. The demonstration was later postponed.

A general view of the scene of a suicide bomb blast outside the popular Lul Yemeni restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia

Somalia security forces investigate the scene of a suicide bomb blast outside the popular Lul Yemeni restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia

Somalia security forces investigate the scene of a suicide bomb blast outside the popular Lul Yemeni restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia

People assist an injured person outside Madina Hospital after a blast at the Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port in Mogadishu

People assist an injured person outside Madina Hospital after a blast at the Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port in Mogadishu

Ambulances on the scene of a suicide bomb blast outside the popular Lul Yemeni restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia

Ambulances on the scene of a suicide bomb blast outside the popular Lul Yemeni restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia

A general view of damages at the scene of a suicide bomb blast outside the popular Lul Yemeni restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia

A general view of damages at the scene of a suicide bomb blast outside the popular Lul Yemeni restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia

People assist an injured person outside Madina Hospital after a blast Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port in Mogadishu

People assist an injured person outside Madina Hospital after a blast Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port in Mogadishu

A view of the explosion site after a bomb-laden vehicle exploded in front of a restaurant near Mogadishu seaport, Somalia

A view of the explosion site after a bomb-laden vehicle exploded in front of a restaurant near Mogadishu seaport, Somalia

Dr Abdulkadir Aden, founder of AAMIN Ambulance services told Reuters: ‘So far we have carried 20 dead people and 30 injured from the blast scene.’ 

Security officer Mohamed Osman told AFP: ‘The blast was very heavy and caused massive destruction and civilian casualties, the operation is still going on to establish the exact number of casualties but initial information security officials obtained indicates more than 10 people died.’ 

Ahmed Abdullahi, who lives near the site of the explosion, 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.’

Somalia’s state-controlled Radio Mogadishu reported there was also destruction of property and that police had cordoned off the area. 

Islamist group al Shabaab frequently carries out bombings in Somalia and elsewhere as part of its campaign to topple the African country’s central government and establish its own rule based on its interpretation of sharia law. 

They were driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, but still control swathes of territory from where they plan and launch frequent, deadly strikes against government and civilian targets.  

A view of the explosion site after a bomb-laden vehicle exploded in front of a restaurant near Mogadishu seaport, Somalia

A view of the explosion site after a bomb-laden vehicle exploded in front of a restaurant near Mogadishu seaport, Somalia

A man walks past a destroyed vehicle at the scene of a blast at a popular restaurant in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia

A man walks past a destroyed vehicle at the scene of a blast at a popular restaurant in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia

A view of the explosion site after a bomb-laden vehicle exploded in front of a restaurant near Mogadishu seaport, Somalia

A view of the explosion site after a bomb-laden vehicle exploded in front of a restaurant near Mogadishu seaport, Somalia

An injured civilian stands outside Madina Hospital after a blast at the Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port in Mogadishu, Somalia

An injured civilian stands outside Madina Hospital after a blast at the Luul Yemeni restaurant near the port in Mogadishu, Somalia

view of the explosion site after a bomb-laden vehicle exploded in front of a restaurant near Mogadishu seaport, Somalia

view of the explosion site after a bomb-laden vehicle exploded in front of a restaurant near Mogadishu seaport, Somalia