According to eyewitnesses, many people were killed in an explosion at a checkpoint in the Somali capital Mogadishu. "We now have nearly a hundred people killed in this terrible attack," said police officer Ahmed Bashane. According to the city's Medina Hospital, 73 dead and dozen wounded were admitted by noon alone.
Mogadishu's mayor Omar Mohamed Filish spoke of 90 injuries shortly after the explosion, including many students. According to police sources, five police officers and three Turkish citizens are among the dead. According to initial knowledge, they are road construction engineers.
Eyewitnesses spoke of a picture of devastation after a truck, apparently loaded with explosives, was blown up during a morning rush hour at a checkpoint in a busy neighborhood.
"The area was full of people going to school or shopping in the city when the horrific attack occurred," said government spokesman Mukhtar Omar. According to a police spokesman, the explosion also severely damaged two minibuses with schoolchildren on board.
Eyewitnesses reported torn bodies and tattered vehicles. Some of the helpers tried desperately to take wounded on donkey carts or bicycles to the nearest hospitals. The impact of the detonation also damaged numerous buildings. Hours later, residents searched for victims there.
Although there were initially no letters of confession, the terrorist Shabab militia is believed to be behind the attack. The terrorist group has been fighting for supremacy in the country in the Horn of Africa for years. The Sunni fundamentalists dominate large areas in the south and center of the East African country and repeatedly carry out attacks, most recently on hotels, public buildings or squares and also on government institutions. They are also active beyond the borders of Somalia.
The U.S. Armed Forces are using air strikes to help the government fight the group and train soldiers. An African Union (AU) force is also providing support.