Blasts rock Somalia’s capital city

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA: A damaged vehicle is seen at the explosion site after an attack staged with a bomb-laden vehicle near the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, Somalia on March 24, 2017. [Sadak Mohamed/Anadolu Agency]

Two explosions occurred within the space of five hours in Somalia’s capital city in the latest wave of violence win the country. Just after 10:00 (local time), a loud explosion was heard in the capital city Mogadishu. A car bomb had exploded in where the former US embassy was situated in the city’s Sei Piano neighbourhood in Hodan district.

#BREAKING Powerful explosion rocked in Mogadishu. #Somalia pic.twitter.com/xssCHOs1mG

— Somalia Live Update (@HassanIstiila) March 24, 2017

Two hours later, Somali security forces announced that they had diffused an explosive that was planted outside the house of an unnamed member of parliament in the town of Adado.

Shortly after, a second bombing went off in front of a restaurant, near Central Hotel in Mogadishu. The hotel is a common target of Al-Shabaab militants, as it is one that often hosts high profile governmental and diplomatic officials.

Image of the dismantled explosive device (IED) put in front of MP's house in Somalia [Twitter]]

Image of the dismantled explosive device (IED) found in front of a MP’s house in Somalia [Twitter]

According to reports, five people have been injured.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but locals suspect Al-Shabaab is behind the latest bombings.

Days of violence

Yesterday morning, at least 10 people were killed and several others injured in fierce fighting between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab militants in the town of Barawa.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the car bomb attack near the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu on Tuesday.

Local police sources claimed that five people were killed, but according to a press release carried by the militant group’s Shahaada News Agency, more than 26 people were killed and dozens more were injured.

“It is worth noting that the martyrdom operation happened after Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre announced the formation of his new government, to show once again the fragility of the government which claims to be working hard to secure the capital, Mogadishu,” the statement read.

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA: People and security forces can be seen near a damaged vehicle is seen at the explosion site after a car bomb exploded near the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, Somalia on March 24, 2017. [Sadak Mohamed/Anadolu Agency]

Image of a damaged vehicle is seen at the explosion site after an attack staged with a bomb-laden vehicle near the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu, Somalia on March 24, 2017. [Sadak Mohamed/Anadolu Agency]

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