By Omar Nor
MOGADISHU (Somalilandsun)—At least 20 people died and nearly 30 others were wounded on Saturday in a double suicide bomb blasts in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, the latest in a string of attacks in the war-torn east African country.
Eyewitnesses said a car bomb went off first outside the popular Village Restaurant frequented by government workers and journalist near Villa Somalia, state house and minutes after a suicide bomber blew himself up inside immediately, killing 20 people, most of them civilians.
“A stationary vehicle laden with explosives ripped through a busy parking lot next to the restaurant while a bomber detonated inside as people were preparing for lunch at around 12:00 P.M.” a witness told Somalilandsun by phone.
The security forces of the federal government of Somalia have reached the area as they immediately cordoned off. Wailing ambulances arrived at the scene shortly and rushed the wounds to the hospitals.
Somalia’s Al Qaeda-affiliated al Shabab militants took responsibility for the deadly suicide attacks.
“Successful operations carried out at the restaurant in Hamarweyne,” al Shabab said on their Somali-language Twitter feed, referring to the Mogadishu district where the attacks occurred.
The Somali capital has been the scene of frequent attacks since the fighters were driven out of the city two years ago.
The al-Shabab group has vowed to topple President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who took office in September 2012 after being chosen by the country’s parliament.
By Omar Nor
omarnor@somalilandsun.com
