MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (AP) – A bomb blast by Somalia’s extremist rebels hit a popular seaside restaurant in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, killing at least six people, ambulance service officials said.
The explosion was detonated by a suicide bomber who had been denied access inside the restaurant where the Somali Police Commissioner and several lawmakers were having dinner, Somali Police Spokesman Major Abdifatah Aden Hassan announced at a press conference on Saturday.
The explosion occurred on Friday evening when many patrons gathered for an Iftar meal to break the Ramadhan fast. The restaurant is frequented by government officials.
Those killed were mostly civilians and seven other people were wounded, Director of Aamin Ambulance Service Abdulkadir Adan told The Associated Press by phone. The blast caused “huge damage”, he said. Some security personnel were killed in the blast but police did not specify how many.
Somalia’s al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
