Al-Shabaab Carry Out Further Attacks in Mogadishu

On Thursday, a car bomb exploded near a café in Somalia’s capital city Mogadishu.  The explosion occurred in an area close to the intelligence headquarters, with police officials indicating that at least seven people were killed.  Sources have indicated that the café, which is located near the city’s Lido beach, was reportedly popular with security officials.

Police official Ahmed Mumin confirmed the explosion, stating “we have counted twelve civilians killed in the car bomb, but the toll could be higher as many people were also wounded.” Eight other people were wounded.   Eyewitnesses have reported that the bomber targeted a security vehicle, with three members of the security forces amongst the dead.  Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for this latest attack in Mogadishu.  The militant group’s military operations spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, stated shortly after the blast that “today’s blast was part of our operations in Mogadishu and we shall continue.”

Thursday’s blast comes just a week after al-Shabaab militants carried out a major attack against the heavily fortified presidential palace, killing officials and guards in a fierce gun battle.  It is also comes after a string of attacks that have been carried out in the capital city in what appears to be an apparent upsurge of al-Shabaab bombings in and around Mogadishu, with night-time mortar rounds fired into the vast, heavily guarded airport complex which also houses the 22,000-strong African Union force as well as foreign diplomats and aid workers.