Twin bomb blasts rattle Somalia’s capital Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab group has carried out a pair of car bombings in Mogadishu, the Somali capital on Sunday evening, Garowe Online reports.

The first blast occurred near a popular hotel near El-Gabta junction in the vicinity of the heavily fortified presidential palace in Hamarweyne district shortly after the Iftar, the sunset meal during the Ramadan.

“A loud explosion was heard across much of the city followed by sustained gunfire after an explosives-filled vehicle has gone off near Muna hotel,” said a witness, who spoke to Garowe Online by phone.

Meanwhile, the Police said a suspect was arrested in connection with the blast around Villa Somalia compound where Al-Shabab extremists targeted with deadly car bombs in the past.

Moments later, another deafening explosion ripped through a busy street in Bula-Hubey village of Wadajir district after an explosive device attached to a car exploded outside a school. It was unclear who was the target. 

The scene of the incident lies a few meters away from K-5 junction, the site of the world’s deadliest attacks since 9/11, a truck bombing in the heart of Mogadishu that killed over 700 people Oct. 14, 2017.

No casualties were reported as a result of the twin car bomb blasts in Mogadishu on Sunday evening which came amidst tight security and heavy police presence on the main roads.

Somalia remains still one of the most insecure nations in Africa, if not the world.

Al-Shabab which is waging a decade-long insurgency to oust the UN-backed Somali government in Mogadishu is known to increase the frequency attacks during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Since last April, Somali government forces aided by the African Union soldiers have dislodged Al-Shabab militants from several villages, situated 60 kilometers [37 miles] west of Mogadishu following joint onslaughts. 

GAROWE ONLINE