{{A web site that supports Al-Shabaab, the radical Islamist group in Somalia, claimed twin blasts that devastated The Village, a restaurant-cum-cafeteria, in Mogadishu on Saturday morning.}}
In a written statement by Al-Shabaab’s Information Directorate , the fanatical Islamists stated that suicide missions targeted The Village in Hamarweyne district in the city centre.
“The jihadists (holy warriors) targeted a favourite place of the local and international spy elements,” stated the Al-Shabaab statement. It added, “The targeted cafeteria is owned by people with close relations with the western spy agencies who are causing hardship in Mogadishu.”
The incident killed 15 and wounded scores of people, most of them being customers and youngsters in and near the popular eating place.
Al-Shabaab had warned the public to stay away from the place, the statement said. It did not mention the method used in the attack, but people in the area believe that the assaults consisted of a suicide car and a person wearing a suicide belt.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud condemned the blasts, blaming Al-Shabaab.
“I call the Somali people to fight the group (Al-Shabaab) that has no other agenda except the annihilation of innocent civilians,” said President Mohamoud in a statement released later on Saturday.
It is the third time The Village; a business owned by a Diaspora Somali Ahmed Jama who returned from UK to invest in the country, is attacked by suicide bombers and claimed by Al-Shabaab.
The first assault occurred in September last year.
NMG
Leave a Reply