Landmine blast in Somalia kills 4 civilians, including mother and daughter

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A powerful landmine blast in Somalia's southern Lower Shabelle province on Thursday killed at least 4 civilians, an official confirmed.

The provincial administration said the tragic incident took place in the vicinity of Awdheegle town, a former key Al-Shabaab bastion now under the Somali government control.

Ahmed Jama, a regional police official, told Garowe Online that three women, including a mother and her daughter, are among the victims. Two other civilians have sustained wounds in the IED explosion.

Jama called the attack an “inhumane act of terrorism.”

"The four people were killed when a landmine exploded as they walked along a semi forest road near K-60 area in Lower Shabelle region," said a resident, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility, but officials normally blame the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab insurgents for planting IEDs on highways.

The blasts come amid ongoing joint military operations by Somali and AU troops that saw the liberation of strategic areas, including Janaale, Awdheegle, Bariire from Al-Shabaab.

Insurgents often use roadside bombs and landmines to target Somalia security forces - but lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians.

GAROWE ONLINE