Somalia: At least eight killed, several injured in car bombing near school in Mogadishu

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Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 25 Nov 2021, 06:03 am Print

Mogadishu Blast

Image of the scene tweeted by Aamin Ambulance service's director Abdikadir Abdirahman (@DrAadem)

Mogadishu, Somalia (JEN): At least eight people have been killed and over a dozen injured in a car bomb explosion that targeted a United Nations (UN) security convoy near a school in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, according local officials and eyewitnesses.

The large explosion was reported near the K4 junction in the heart of Mogadishu in the early hours of Thursday.

A large explosion in a busy part of #Somalia's capital, #Mogadishu during the morning rush hour, killing 8 people and wounding 20+, including 7 students. (AP Photo). pic.twitter.com/DtB6XAtMap
— GAROWE ONLINE (@GaroweOnline) November 25, 2021

Local authorities said school students were among the 17 injured in the latest attack claimed by Al-Shabaab jihadists in the troubled country.

A witness in Mogadishu shared this photo of the explosion in the city at around 7:30am local time. Update #1 pic.twitter.com/ewUY0ep2ZF
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) November 25, 2021

Abdifatah Aden Hassan, a spokesman for Somalia's police, in a brief statement said a suicide bomber in an SUV full of explosives had targeted a UN security convoy in the heart of Mogadishu.

"Eight civilians were killed and 17 people, including 13 school students, were injured in the explosion," he told reporters.

Inside the Mocaasir school building that bears the brunt of the impact of the car bombing. At least 11 students were injured, reports. #Mogadishu. Update #5 pic.twitter.com/2dua2AOS8u
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) November 25, 2021

The founder-chairman of Mogadishu's Aamin Ambulance service, Abdikadir Abdirahman, said at least 23 people, who were injured in the blast, were evacuated from the scene.

This is a tragedy. The explosion took place in front of Mucassar school at Hodan district in Mogadishu killing and injuring stidents and civilians near by.@HarunMaruf @HannaAli pic.twitter.com/mGW6uLTvp7
— Dr. Abdulkadir Adan (@DrAadem) November 25, 2021

"This is a tragedy. The explosion took place in front of Mucassar school at Hodan district in Mogadishu killing and injuring students and civilians nearby," he tweeted.

It was immediately not clear if any UN personnel was among those killed or injured in the car bombing, which targeted a large convoy carrying troops from the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) as it passed near a school.

Area of the explosion has been cordoned off. Update #6 pic.twitter.com/lCSyctXvI7
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) November 25, 2021

UN officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the attack on the African Union force fighting the militants.

Condemning the deadly terror attack, the United States embassy in Mogadishu said "the people of Somalia deserve to live without fear of attack".

"Our thoughts are with the victims of this morning's bombing and with the families of those tragically killed and injured. The United States strongly condemns all forms of terrorism. The people of Somalia deserve to live without fear of attack," the US embassy tweeted.

Our thoughts are with the victims of this morning's bombing and with the families of those tragically killed and injured. The United States strongly condemns all forms of terrorism. The people of #Somalia deserve to live without fear of attack.
— U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia (@US2SOMALIA) November 25, 2021

The Somali National News Agency (SNNA) reported Somalia Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble "strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist attack" in Mogadishu that has claimed at least eight lives.

#Somalia #SomaliaTerrorAttack #Mogadishu #MogadishuExplosion #UN #AfricanUnion #AMISOM #AlShabaab