MOGADISHU: At least four people were killed and eight others wounded in a suicide attack on a café in the Somali capital Mogadishu, police and witnesses said on Friday.
The attacker, who was wearing an explosive belt, targeted a café near heavily guarded government institutions, including the headquarters of the Somali Intelligence Agency, at around 5:30 pm (1430 GMT), the sources said.
"There was a blast caused by a suicide bomber targeting a café near Juba intersection, investigations are still ongoing but the initial information we have indicates four people were killed and eight others wounded," Mohamed Adan, a police officer at the site of the attack, told AFP.
"The café was crowded when the blast occurred," said Abdikarim Ali, a witness. "I was close to the area and rushed to the scene after the blast and I saw at least four lifeless bodies strewn in the ruins of chairs, tables and other materials used in the café."
According to another witness, Suleyman Mohamud, "ambulances were collecting dead bodies and injured people from the scene".
The café is frequented by members of the Somali security forces, some sources said.
The attack was not immediately claimed, but Al-Shabab, an Al-Qaeda-linked extremist group that wants to overthrow Somalia's fragile government, regularly carries out attacks on government targets and civilians in Mogadishu.
Al-Shabab controlled the Somali capital before being ousted in 2011 by troops from Amisom, the African Union force.
Suicide bomber kills four, wounds eight in Mogadishu
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Suicide bomber kills four, wounds eight in Mogadishu
- Attacker, who was wearing an explosive belt, targeted a café near heavily guarded government institutions
- The café is frequented by members of Somali security forces, some sources said
Putin calls for immediate halt to Iran conflict
- Vladimir Putin in constant contact with the leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council member states
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iran’s president over the numerous civilian casualties resulting from “the armed Israeli-American aggression against Iran” and called for an immediate halt to hostilities, the Kremlin said.
In a phone call late on Friday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin expressed his deep condolences over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, members of Khamenei’s family, Iranian political and military leaders and “numerous civilians.”
“Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s principled stance in favor of an immediate cessation of hostilities, the rejection of force as a method to solve any issues surrounding Iran or arising in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution,” the Kremlin said.
Putin said he was in constant contact with the leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
“Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia’s solidarity with the Iranian people as they defend their sovereignty and the independence of their country. He also provided a detailed update on the developments during the latest active phase of the conflict,” the Kremlin said.
