Somalia: High casualties in massive car bomb attack in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least 30 people have been confirmed dead in Mogadishu's Saturday morning suicide bomb attack, an official has confirmed, despite conflicting reports on numbers of casualties.

Ismael Mukhtar, who is the spokesperson for Information Ministry, said rescue operations were ongoing, adding that only thirty had been confirmed dead.

Mukhtar said: "It is tragic that we have so far lost 30. It's a dark moment in Mogadishu. Losing people through unprecedented attacks."

The spokesperson said "we shall ensure that everybody is accounted for. The most important thing now is to rush the injured to hospital."

The suspected terrorist attack targeted police security checkpoint West of the capital Mogadishu, with the car exploding near a tax collection center.

Businesses have been grounded following massive destruction of nearby buildings and stalls, something that rekindles insecurity days in Mogadishu.

"A suicide bomber drove the rigged car into the security checkpoint at the highway road leading to Afgoye, "Ahmed Bashir, a police officer told Garowe Online earlier.

VOA reporter Harun Maruf said, "I counted the dead bodies from two pictures I received, I see the bodies of about 15 people lying on the ground near the scene of the attack."

But conflicting reports indicate that the death toll could be as well triple the official government figure, with sources estimating it at 90.

Abdirizak Mohamed, a federal MP said civilians are worst affected in the police checkpoint attack, adding that foreign nationals are also among victims.

"I was informed the death toll stands over 90 including 17 Somali police officers, 73 civilians, and 4 foreign nationals. May Allah have mercy on the victims of this barbaric attack," he tweeted.

No group is yet to take responsibility for the latest deadly attack that comes at the time the country is planning for 2020/21 polls.

However, Al-Shabaab militants are synonymous with such attacks, despite being neutralized from the capital following intervention by AMISOM troops.

Early this month, the Al-Qaida associates took responsibility following the SYL Hotel attack near the presidential palace, which left at least 7 dead.

Security forces have heightened surveillance in the capital even as rescue teams combed the site to salvage injured people and properties.

Ambulances have since been deployed to offer quick emergency services to the victims of the suicide car bomb. Security forces are aiding evacuation.

The Al-Shabaab militants have remained a huge threat to Somalia's stability, despite the fact that the group has been substantially neutralized.

GAROWE ONLINE