11 Killed, Several Injured As Car Bomb Explodes Near Shopping Mall In Mogadishu, Somalia

A car bomb exploded in front of a shopping mall in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu killing at least eleven people and injuring several others in Monday.

The blast occurred in Mogadishu’s Hamarweyne district, a busy area with shops and restaurants. A pro-al-Shabaab website, somalimemo.net cited an unnamed Al-Shabaab official claiming responsibility for the attack. 

Police officer Ahmed Baashane told journalists the explosion was caused by a car bomb,  but it was unclear whether a suicide bomber was involved. 

“The latest death toll we have suggests that up to 11 innocent people were killed in the blast, ” he said. 

The number of casualties may rise, an official he said.

A Reuters witness saw one dead person at the scene, where four cars burned and a restaurant was destroyed.