ICYMI: Two car bomb explosions at the education ministry in #Somalia’s capital #Mogadishu have killed or wounded scores of people, police and the state news agency say.https://t.co/WAoXuYozmb
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 30, 2022
Is that a "stock Mogadishu downtown photo"?
Two boom-mobile explosions at the education ministry in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu killed or maimed scores of people on Saturday, police and the state news agency said.
... and if you can't believe the state news agency who can you believe?
It was not known who was behind the blasts but the turban group al-Shabaab
...... the personification of Somali state failure...frequently carries out bombings and gun attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere.
"Two boom-mobiles hit the walls of the ministry," police captain Nur Farah said.
The first explosion hit the ministry then the second blast occurred as ambulances arrived and people gathered to help the victims, Farah told Rooters.
A police officer guarding the ministry, who gave his name as Hassan, told Rooters he saw at least 12 bodies and more than 20 people maimed.
State news agency SONNA, said the blasts had caused "scores of civilian casualties including independent journalist Mohammed Isse Kona."
A Rooters journalist near the blast site said the two explosions occurred within minutes of each other and smashed windows in the vicinity. Blood from victims of the blasts covered the tarmac just outside the building, he said.
"The second blast burnt our ambulance as we came to transport the casualties from the first blast," Abdikadir Abdirahman of the Aamin Ambulance Service told Rooters.
A driver and a first aid worker had been injured in the blast, he said.
| Shabelle Media adds: |
The TV reporter died while covering an attack targeting the headquarters of the ministry of education in the Zoobe area, where two explosions were heard in the span of 5 minutes.
Hodon district police boss was also among the dead while several other security officials and civilians were wounded in the attack, which becomes the biggest in years.
The wounded were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment by ambulances.