At least 100 killed in twin Mogadishu bombings by Al-Shabaab
A general view shows the scene of an explosion near the education ministry building along K5 street in Mogadishu, Somalia October 29, 2022. REUTERS/Feisal Omar
At least 100 people have been killed in twin car bombings in the Somali capital Mogadishu by Al-Shabaab terrorists, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said early Sunday.
The explosions took place on Saturday afternoon when two cars ladened with explosives blew up minutes apart near the busy Zobe junction targeting the Ministry of Education.
Zobe is the site of the October 14, 2017, truck bombing that killed over 1,000 people.
“So far, the number of people who died has reached 100 and 300 are wounded, and the number for both the death and wounded continues to increase,” Mohamud told reporters after visiting the site of the blast.
He added, “Our people who were massacred … included mothers with their children in their arms, fathers who had medical conditions, students who were sent to study, businessmen who were struggling with the lives of their families.”
The president appealed to the public to go to the hospitals and donate blood for those injured in the attack.
Local journalist Mohamed Isse Koona was among those killed in the explosions.
Several countries, international organizations, and world leaders have condemned the deadly bombings in Mogadishu.
The U.S. termed the bombings “cowardly” and a proof that Al-Shabaab was losing on the battlefield.
The United Nations Mission in Somalia decried the attacks as “vicious” .
Turkiye said it was “deeply saddened” by the “heinous terrorist attacks” in Mogadishu while Qatar reiterated “its rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism.”
Kenya expressed solidarity with Somalia and committed “to work with other countries to ensure peace and security prevails in the region.”
Meanwhile, Egypt urged the international community to put more efforts towards uprooting terrorism and drying up its funding sources.
Al-Shabaab have been on the back foot in recent months following an offensive by government forces, supported by armed local militias, that has pushed the group out of key towns and villages.
