Mogadishu bomb attacks kill 90
MOGADISHU: Two car bombs in separate parts of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu killed at least 90 people yesterday and injured more than 120, police say.
The first explosion — in the city’s K5 Junction area which is lined with government offices, hotels and restaurants — destroyed several buildings and set dozens of vehicles on fire, and is believed to be the most powerful explosion ever witnessed in Mogadishu.
A suicide bomber exploded a truck at the busy intersection despite being fired on by security forces, as reported by government officials, medical sources and witnesses yesterday, sending clouds of white smoke spiralling into the sky.
Most of those killed were civilians, a police officer, Mohamed Dahir, said.
Witness Ahmed Hassan described dozens of public buses destroyed as wounded survivors and panicked people sought safety.
‘‘Dead bodies were scattered around the area,’’ he said.
‘‘I have never seen such a terrible attack. It is like an earthquake in terms of the destruction it has caused.’’
Another witness, Abdiasis Qorane, said he had lost his car, one of more than 100 cars that were burnt out in the attack.
‘‘There was blood everywhere. My eyes could see parts of dead bodies being cut into pieces,’’ Qorane said.
About two hours later, a second blast took place in the city’s Madina district.
‘‘It was a car bomb. Two civilians were killed,’’ Siyad Farah, a police major, said, adding that a suspect had been caught on suspicion of planting explosives.
Speaking on radio, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed described the attack as a national tragedy and called on the public to help the victims by giving blood.
He announced three days of mourning as thousands of people took the city’s streets to visit hospitals and look for loved ones who were missing.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although the Islamist al Shabaab group has carried out regular attacks.
The al Qaedaallied group is waging an insurgency to topple the weak UNbacked government and its African Union allies and impose its own strict interpretation of Islam. — Reuters/DPA