Al-Shabab claims deadly Somalia bombing
At least 12 people were killed and 27 others wounded when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into an African Union convoy southwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu, a local governor told Somalireport24 News.
The attack, the latest in a wave of violence, comes exactly one week after a US air strike killed the chief of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, prompting threats of retaliation from the group.
Speaking to Somalireport24, al-Shabab’s military operations spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack that took place near the town of Afgoye, about 30km northwest from the capital Mogadishu.
Governor Abdukadir Mohamed Sidi talking to AFP said that a car packed with explosives hit one of the armoured AU trucks..
“Twelve civilians in a minibus were killed, and 27 others were wounded,” he told the AFP news agency.
Two soldiers from AMISOM – the African Union Mission in Somalia – were wounded in the attack, Sidi added.
Targeting Al-Shabab leaders
Abu Muscab a Al-Shabab spokesman told Somalireport24 that the target of this attack was an American commander who gives training to special forces inside Mugadishu.
He said “our assualt was succefull and our attac we killed three other Americans and a South African employed mercenary” Abu Muscab told Somalireport24.
Abu Muscab elso told to Somalireport that this attak was a retaliation for the killing of their leader Godane.
Witnesses told to Somalireport24 that a huge blast and wave of fire, with civilians on the busy highway between the town and the capital caught up in the explosion.
Minutes after the explosion Muhubo Hajji Ilmi a resident near where the plast took place told to Somalireport24 that she saw two minibuses with pools of blood and many civilians were killed, she said the explosion was enormous.
A second car bomb, also claimed by al-Shabab, targeted Somali government soldiers in Elasha Biyaha about 15km outside the capital.
Mohamed Ali Askar
Somalireport
Mugadishu
