Somali government announces casualties in last night’s attacks in Mogadishu

Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab has on Sunday claimed responsibility for a series of grenade attacks in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Somali police spokesman Abdifatah Aden Hassan told reporters that the attack in Kahda began with a car packed with explosives, and that the forces had resisted.

Abdifatah also noted that the attack caused heavy casualties to civilians and the construction of the base, according to the statement.

He also pointed out that during the fighting, rescue forces arrived in Kahda and carried out an operation to arrest suspects in the attack.

“The attack in Kahda district has injured civilians and the building of the district headquarters. The forces have carried out operations against the attackers,” said a spokesman for the Somali Police Force.

He also spoke about another attack in Dar es Salaam that began with a heavy explosion, killing and injuring soldiers and other civilians.

A police spokesman confirmed that the dead included two young girls, a Somali police officer and a military officer.

“In Dar es Salaam, 16 civilians were injured and two girls were seriously injured. Three police officers, a military officer and a security guard were injured, ”he added.

Al-Shabaab claimed victory in the attack, claiming to have inflicted heavy casualties on government soldiers and confiscated weapons and vehicles.

The bomber struck shortly after midnight in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, at a time when elections are underway for members of Parliament.