(21-10-23) MOGADISHU — Amid a troubling surge in suicide bombings, the suburb of Elasha Biyaha, situated to the west of the Somali capital Mogadishu, was rocked by yet another devastating attack early Saturday morning. The extremist group Al-Shabaab has taken responsibility for the latest bombing, targeting a military camp used by Somali police personnel.
Eyewitness accounts from the scene suggest a minimum of 15 fatalities and multiple injuries, in addition to the destruction of adjacent residential buildings. The spokesperson for the Somali Police Force, Sadiq Doodishe, however, presented conflicting data.
“The initial target was the heart of Mogadishu, with the specific intent to harm the Somali populace,” said Doodishe. “Thwarted in this attempt at around 05:30 AM, the Khawarij [Al-Shabaab] chose to focus their attack on the military headquarters instead.”
Doodishe reports that six individuals, inclusive of two civilians, were killed, and another nine were injured. These figures diverge sharply from the militant group’s claims, which assert at least 49 soldiers were killed.
This bombing marks the fifth such attack that Somali security forces have traced back to Al-Shabaab. “Our forces have intercepted similar threats aimed at Mogadishu,” Doodishe added, emphasizing the increasing frequency of these suicide attacks.
Adding to the volatile situation, another suicide bombing at the Blue Sky Restaurant in Mogadishu’s Boondheere district on Monday evening resulted in four additional deaths, including a TV journalist, and six injuries. The attack on Saturday thus constitutes the third suicide bombing in Mogadishu in October alone.
Halqabsi News
