Al-Shabaab claim responsibility as 12 killed after suicide bomber detonates explosives inside restaurant in Somali city of Beledweyne
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.At least 13 people have died after a suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a restaurant in a city north of the capital of Somalia.
Twelve people plus the bomber died in the blast in the city of Beledweyne, about 200 miles north of Mogadishu. At least 10 other people were injured.
Many of those killed or wounded were civilians, a police officer said, although it was possible some of the victims were government soldiers.
Somali Islamist militant group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for attack at qa restaurant popular with Ethiopian and Somali troops.
"Our main target was Ethiopian and Djibouti troops who invaded our country. They were sitting there,' Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabaab's military operation spokesman said.
He claimed the death toll from the attack was 25, including troops from Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia.
Beledweyne is under the control of the central government and African Union peacekeepers from Djibouti are stationed there.
Al-Qai'da-linked al-Shabab militants frequently stage such attacks on seats of power as well as restaurants and other public places that are popular with foreigners and government soldiers.
Al-Shabaab, which seeks political control of Somalia, has said it wants all foreign peacekeepers to leave the country. This is cited as the reason it has staged attacks in east African countries such as Kenya and Uganda, which have sent peacekeepers to support Somalia's central government.
The al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for a deadly attack last month on a mall in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.
Al-Shabaab said the September 21 attack, in which scores were killed during a four-day siege of the Westgate shopping mall, was in retaliation for Kenya sending troops into Somalia to tackle the extremists.
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments