Five killed in Eid Al Fitr bomb explosion in Somalia

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 02:48 pm

At least five people were killed and more than 20 wounded on Sunday after a bomb exploded during Eid Al Fitr celebrations in Somalia.

The explosion was caused by a bomb in Baidoa, 250 kilometres outside the capital Mogadishu.

“The initial information we have received indicates the bodies of five people were collected from the scene of the blast and more than 20 others have been wounded,” police officer Mohamed Muktar told AFP.

The death toll could increase because of the severity of some of the injuries, he said.

Local police said that the wounded were taken to the Baidoa hospital for treatment.

Witness Mohamud Ibrahim said the crowd had been dancing and singing when the blast occurred. “The blast was huge and it caused casualties more than a grenade may cause,” he said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Al Shabab, an Al Qaeda affiliate, was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 and lost most of its strongholds, but still controls vast parts of the countryside.

Its militants have pledged to overthrow the internationally backed government in the capital and still carry out attacks including suicide bombings against government and international targets.

In 2013 and 2016 the group launched deadly attacks on beachfront restaurants in Mogadishu.

(thenational)