Friday August 20, 2021
First responders at the scene of a terrorist attack in Mogadishu, Somalia, July 10, 2021. © AFP
Mogadishu (HOL) - Al-Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attack in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Thursday.
In a statement released to an Al-Shabaab-affiliated website, Al-Shabaab claimed that it killed 17 people in the attack. The group said it was targeting "apostate soldiers."
According to police and multiple witnesses - including hospital officials - the attack killed four people and maimed several others after a suicide bomber walked into a restaurant near the busy Juba junction and blew himself up.
The restaurant was close to Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) headquarters and was popular among security forces.
Officials have confirmed that three of three police officers were among those killed.
There are no independent reports that can corroborate Al-Shabaab's exaggerated casualty figures.
Despite a government offensive against Al-Shabaab militants in central and southern Somalia, Al-Shabaab fighters have maintained the ability to strike at government and civilian installations in the heart of the capital.