13 killed and several wounded in suicide bombing in Somalia

13 killed and several wounded in suicide bombing in Somalia
February 19, 2022, 4:12 pm

Al-Shabaab fighters display weapons as they conduct military exercises in northern Mogadishu, Somalia. (File photo AP)

The Arab News reported, citing Reuters, state television in Somalia said, at least 13 people were killed in the central Somali town of Beledweyne on Saturday.

The report said that a suicide bomber blew himself up in a restaurant that witnesses said was packed with local officials and politicians.

According to a report by SITE intelligence, which monitors the Al-Shabab militants groups online, the militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The hard-line group, which frequently attacks government targets and civilians, has unleashed two attacks in the past two weeks.

A further 18 people were injured in the Beledweyne attack, the Somali National Television said on Twitter.

One witness in Beledweyne said he helped to evacuate the injured after the mid-morning attack.

Aden Farah, a local elder, told Reuters: “I counted seven dead, including soldiers and civilians, and over ten injured.”

Al-Shabab militants attack police stations and security check points in Somalia's capital Mogadishu (file photo: Facebook page)

Police and government officials confirmed the restaurant attack was the result of a suicide bomb but did not give the number of casualties.

Residents said that one of those killed in the attack in Beledweyne was a candidate in an ongoing parliamentary election.

Al-Shabab militants attack police stations and security check points in Mogadishu

The parliamentary elections began on Nov. 1 and were initially supposed to end on Dec. 24, but are currently due to be completed on Feb. 25.

Under Somalia’s indirect electoral process, delegates, who include clan elders, pick members of the lower house, who will then choose a new president at a date yet to be fixed.

Weapons supplied by Iran to Houthi allies in Yemen smuggled into Somalia for Al Shabab insurgents

The recent attacks by Al-Shabab could present more problems for the election, which has been delayed by a year.
Al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab aims to topple the central government and impose its own severe interpretation of Islamic law.

Source: arabnews

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