At least four people were killed and more than 10 injured after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest in a tea shop outside an army training center in Mogadishu’s Wadajir district, police said.
According to police, the bomber entered the teahouse, posed as a customer and sat down to have tea. Moments later, the bomber blew himself up.
Police spokesman Major Abdifatah Aden said the bomber deliberately targeted the tea shop’s customers. Fourteen people were injured in the blast, and four of them succumbed to their injuries after being evacuated from the scene, Aden said. The militant group al-Shabab immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack.
The explosion heavily damaged the tea shop, which was made of corrugated iron.
A second explosion occurred about two hours after the first, in the same area, according to police. This one was caused by a device attached to a vehicle belonging to a private company, and no casualties were reported, police said.
On Sunday, Somali government spokesman and former journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu was seriously injured when a suicide bomber rushed to his car and detonated an explosive vest.
Moalimuu’s hand and leg were injured by shrapnel from the device. He has since been flown to Turkey for medical treatment.