At least four people were killed after an al-Shabaab car bomb exploded near a café in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Monday, May 8, according to multiple reports.
Some reports said as many as six people were killed. Reuters reported five people were killed. Voice of America’s Harun Maruf citing unnamed sources said six people were killed including senior military officer General Abdi Bashir Aden.
Up to ten people were injured.
The restraurant targeted the car bomb isn't far away the HQof #Somalia's Department of Immigration. #Mogadishu pic.twitter.com/AEZ2K4UvLY
— Mohamed Bashle (@mohamedbashle) May 8, 2017
“A suicide car bomb was driven into the cafeteria before exploding. We do not know about casualties yet,” police officer Major Aden Ibrahim told Reuters.
#UPDATE: Look at the same of Images Of The Explosion in #Mogadishu,Security operation underway source says @SahraCabdi @Tuuryare_Africa pic.twitter.com/4ZfJovItt0
— Mohamed-Bishaar (@mbishaar) May 8, 2017
Earlier on Monday, three soldiers were killed after an al-Shabaab roadside bomb exploded 90 km (60 miles) north of Mogadishu, Reuters reported.
On May 4, a US Navy Special Warfare Operator was killed, and two others and an interpreter injured during a joint US/Somali operation against al-Shabaab near Bariire, around 64km (40 miles) west of Mogadishu.
According to multiple reports, the Somali government said Moalim Osman Abdi Badil, al-Shabaab’s leader in the Lower Shabelle region, was killed in the joint US/Somali raid.