‘Heartless’ Somalia attack condemned

A former leader of the al-shabaab extremist group who surrendered to Somalia’s government earlier this year has condemned Saturday’s bombing that killed more than 300 people.

Sheikh Mukhtar Robow called the deadliest-ever attack in Somalia an “irreligious” and “heartless” act. The truck bomb targeted a crowded street in Mogadishu.

Somalia’s government has blamed al-shabaab, which has yet to comment on the attack.

Robow’s surrender followed a decision by the Trump administration, which removed him from the “most wanted list” of terrorist suspects run by the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program in June.

Scores of people are missing after Saturday’s bombing, raising fears that death toll will continue to rise.

Police Captain Mohamed Hussein said at least 300 people were dead and close to 400 others injured. He added nearly 70 people were missing, based on accounts from relatives.