At least 25 people were killed and close to 30 others were injured when two cars laden with explosives went off in Mogadishu followed by gunfire, officials and ambulance service confirmed.
The first blast which was caused by a car driven by suicide bomber that took place at the parking lot of Dorbin Hotel ( Ex- Bar Fiat), according to the state News agency.
Minutes later another car bomb went off after the security forces opened fire at another car while the bomber was trying to ram into a checkpoint near Somali presidential palace.
The director of Aamin Ambulance Service, Abdirahman Abdulqadir said their ambulances ferried 20 bodies and 20 others who injures in the blasts.
“We are still busy recording the number of the casualties of the incident but as for now we have transported 20 bodies and 20 injuries to different hospitals,” Abdulqadir told the media.
Reporters who visited the scene near Villa Somalia confirmed to Halbeeg 10 deaths including some attackers and 7 injuries.
Five assailants killed
Somali security minister, Mohamed Abukar Islow said the security forces concluded operations and killed five attackers.
“Somali security minister said the operations ended and the security forces neutralized five Al-shabab attackers who carried out the attacks. He noted that government would release the number of casualties of the attacks after investigation,” Somali National News Agency quoted the minister.
Al-shabab immediately claimed the responsibility of the attacks saying they killed 15 soldiers in Friday’s attack.
“Two operations including two car bomb martyrdoms went on around the presidential palace and a national security forces’ base called Habar Khadija,” Al Shabab military spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab said.
The attacks come 130 days after the deadliest truck bomb of 14th October that occurred in Mogadishu. Over 500 people were killed and 400 others sustained injuries.
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