13 killed in Somalia’s latest suicide bomb blast

13 killed in Somalia’s latest suicide bomb blast

Several people have been reported killed in a suicide bombing at an army recruitment centre in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

The attacker on Sunday targeted a queue of young recruits lining up outside the Damanyo base, killing at least 13 people, the Associated Press news agency quoted witnesses as saying.

“There was a loud explosion, and immediately people began running in all directions. Bodies were everywhere,” said Abdulkadir Hassan Mohamed, a tuk-tuk driver who witnessed the blast told AP.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Teenagers were lining up at the base’s gate when the suicide bomber detonated the explosives, witnesses told Reuters.

Abdisalan Mohamed said he had seen “hundreds of teenagers at the gate as we passed by in a bus”.

READ ALSO:

• I’m head of Nigerian delegation, Tinubu tells Obi in Rome
• Awoniyi thanks family, Nottingham, Nigerians after ordeal
• Atiku offers Obi VP slot in one-term arrangement for 2027 – Report

“Abruptly, a deafening blast occurred, and the area was covered by dense smoke. We could not see the details of casualties,” he added.

A military captain who gave his name as Suleiman described the attack as he had seen it unfold.

Dozens of abandoned shoes and the remains of the suicide bomber remained visible at the scene.

Medical staff at the military hospital told Reuters they had received 30 wounded people from the blast and six of them had died immediately.

13 killed in Somalia’s latest suicide bomb blast

Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies