A number of individuals have been killed after a automobile bomb exploded exterior a well-liked café filled with soccer followers within the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The bomb went off on Sunday evening at 22:28 native time as patrons at Prime Espresso had been watching the Euro 2024 soccer ultimate between Spain and England.
Police mentioned not less than 5 had been killed within the explosion and 20 extra injured. Safety sources later instructed the AFP information company the loss of life toll had risen to 9.
Jihadist group al-Shabab mentioned it carried out the assault.
The restaurant had been full, with some on the pavement exterior because the bomb went off, sending individuals scrambling for security, witnesses mentioned.
“We heard a loud, horrifying explosion throughout the first half of the sport that we had been watching. Everybody had to determine methods to save themselves,” one of many survivors, Mohamed Muse, instructed the BBC.
“I noticed individuals in peril, injured individuals screaming for assist, and others confused – it was terrifying,” he added.
The explosion additionally destroyed quite a few automobiles and broken a number of buildings.
Al-Shabab, a part of the al-Qaeda group, reportedly mentioned it was focusing on a spot the place safety and authorities employees meet at evening.
The realm is near Villa Somalia, the official presidential residence.
The jihadist group has carried out quite a few bombings within the metropolis and different elements of Somalia over the past 17 years.
Nonetheless, there has has been a lull in latest months amid a unbroken offensive by Somali safety forces in opposition to the group, which nonetheless controls giant elements of the nation.
