A vehicle laden with explosives was detonated outside a busy restaurant in Somalia’s capital, with at least 16 people killed in the attack, police said Thursday.
Capt. Mohamed Hussein said blast occurred as the restaurant in Mogadishu’s Waberi district was crowded with diners, reported Associated Press.
The Aamin ambulance service said that at least 16 wounded people were taken to hospitals.
At this point the attack has not been claimed by any party.
Al-Shabaab extremist group, a group that has links with Al-Qaida, often targets high-profile areas in Mogadishu with suicide bombings, mainly security checkpoints, hotels and government offices.
Al-Shabaab was driven away out of the capital many years ago. However, it continues to hold large parts of rural southern and central Somalia.
The group, with thousands of fighters, has been taxing local people and travellers to finance its deadly endeavour to establish an Islamic state in the region.
The US military has massively increased the number of airstrikes against Al-Shabaab since President Donald Trump’s arrival to power. Other forces also fight the extremist group, including multi-national African Union force, Somali forces and Kenyan troops.
