Somali: Death toll rises to 26 from weekend blasts in capital

An injured man is assisted after being wounded in a bomb blast near the presidential palace in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia. Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018. Police say a suicide car bomb detonated near the presidential palace killing and wounding a number of people. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Share this trending news with friends

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The death toll rose to 26 from Saturday’s twin bombings in Somalia’s capital, police and hospital sources said Monday.

The number rose because several victims of the suicide car blast near the rear entrance of the presidential palace died in hospitals in Mogadishu, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein. The toll could rise further as several of the 20 wounded have serious injuries, hospital sources confirmed.

Among the dead were seven soldiers who were escorting a government official through a checkpoint on their way to the presidential palace.

The second smaller suicide car bomb was detonated close to an underground prison run by the country’s intelligence. Last week, the government announced that it closed Godka Jilaow prison as parts of efforts aimed at improving the country’s human rights record.

A man walks past destroyed buildings after a large blast in the capital city of Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018. Police say a suicide car bomb exploded near the presidential palace killing and injuring a number of people. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Others killed include three staffers from the London-based Universal TV station, including prominent journalist Awil Dahir Salad, said Capt. Hussein.

The bomber targeted the checkpoint near the rear entrance of the heavily fortified palace, he said. A lawmaker and a deputy mayor of Mogadishu were among those wounded, he said.

The blasts appeared to target people heading to work on what was a business day in the Horn of Africa nation.

Al-Shabab, Somalia’s extremist rebels who are allied to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attacks. The most active Islamic extremist group in sub-Saharan Africa, al-Shabab was pushed out of Mogadishu several years ago but continues to control large parts of rural southern and central Somalia from where they launch bombings that hit the capital city.

The U.S. military, which partners with Somali forces and a 20,000-strong African Union peacekeeping mission, has greatly increased airstrikes against al-Shabab under the Trump administration. At least 47 U.S. strikes have been carried out this year.
By ABDI GULED I Associated Press

About the Author

Michael Onas
Africa - Online Founder & Senior Editor Africa - Online.Com was founded by Michael Onas in 1997, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in African news sector, with millions of readers around the world and followers on social media.