Somalia: At least 189 killed in car explosions in Mogadishu
The President has declared three days of national mourning.
At least 185 people were killed on Saturday after two cars exploded in separate parts of Somalian Capital Mogadishu. About 250 were injured, according to Al Jazeera.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo has declared three days of national mourning, starting Sunday.
The first explosion took place outside a popular hotel in the city’s K5 Junction area, destroying several buildings and setting dozens of vehicles on fire. The Somali Foreign Ministry and several other government offices are located in the area.
The explosion was followed by a gunfight between security forces and armed men around and inside the Safari Hotel, Al Jazeera reported. “About four” gunmen entered the hotel after the blast and opened fire.
The toll is likely to rise as bodies are expected to be found under the rubble. A suspect has been arrested, according to Reuters.
No terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. An Al Jazeera reporter said the first blast had “all the hallmarks” of a strike by the armed group Al-Shabab, which wants to overthrow the internationally recognised government and often carries out gun, grenade and bomb attacks in the country.
Two people were killed in the second blast in the city’s Madina district two hours later.