World

Somalia Mogadishu: Explosions rock capital

October 28, 2017 4:27 pm

Two explosions have rocked the Somali capital Mogadishu, just two weeks after a huge bomb killed more than 350 people.

The first blast was caused by a car bomb being driven into a hotel. Militants then stormed the building.

The second explosion took place near the former parliament house nearby. Local media reports 10 have died.

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The Islamist militant group al-Shabab – which officials blamed for the attack two weeks ago – said it carried out the latest bombings.

The death toll from Saturdays’ attack is expected to rise.

Within an hour of the attacks, the city’s Aamin Ambulance said it had already ferried 15 wounded, adding there were “many dead bodies”.

Major Abdullahi Aden told Reuters: “It is a busy hotel frequented by lawmakers, (military) forces and civilians.”

Police official Ibrahim Mohamed told AFP news agency that in the second explosion a “minibus loaded with explosives” went off at a nearby intersection.

The attacks come as provincial leader gathers in Mogadishu for a meeting on Sunday with the government to agree on a united strategy against al-Shabab.

The 14 October attack left at least 358 dead, and another 56 still missing.