Voice of America
08 Aug 2020, 19:35 GMT+10
At least nine people were killed and nearly 20 others injured Saturday in a car bomb blast at the front gate of a Somali military base in Mogadishu, witnesses and security officials said.
Government security officials contacted by VOA have confirmed that eight of those killed were government soldiers and other casualties included members of the solders' families, who were at the base at the time.
"A suicide bomber driving an explosive-laden vehicle sped toward the front gate of the camp but the guards opened fire to stop it before it detonated," Aden Mohamed, a police officer among the first responders, told VOA's Somali Service.
Analysts Hope Elections Do Not Slow Somalia-Somaliland Talks The two sides disagree on the status of Somaliland, which declared independence from Mogadishu in 1991
The blast was heard throughout the area and sent a plume of black smoke into the air.
"I saw the dead bodies of at least eight soldiers and ambulances rushed to the scene to carry away the wounded," a witness told VOA on condition of anonymity.
Hospital sources have confirmed that around 20 wounded people, mainly soldiers, were wounded in the blast.
"We have taken at least 15 injured people [to hospitals], some of them in critical condition," the city's emergency medical responders told local media.
The military camp is located near the city's newly reopened main sports stadium in the Warta-nabadda district.
The blast comes days after a suicide bombing killed at least four people, including the bomber at a Mogadishu restaurant that is popular with security forces and government workers.
Al-Shabab militants have claimed responsibility for the Saturday explosion, claiming they killed dozens of government soldiers.
Get a daily dose of Zimbabwe Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Zimbabwe Star.
More InformationMADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...
(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) Rookie Agustin Ramirez grounded a two-out, two-strike, two-run, tie-breaking single in the...
(Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images) Addison Barger hit an RBI single with two outs in the 11th inning and the Toronto...
Buenos Aires [Argentina], July 6 (ANI): After concluding his visit to Argentina on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed...
Abu Dhabi [UAE], July 5 (ANI/WAM): President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President...
Birmingham [UK], July 5 (ANI): KL Rahul continued his fine overseas run in Test cricket, becoming only the second Indian opener after...
* China's first LEGOLAND resort opened on Saturday in Shanghai. * Spanning 318,000 square meters, LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort is the...