Suicide bombing kills at least 2 in Somali capital

By Mohamed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least two civilians were killed and two wounded in a suicide attack Wednesday at a busy intersection in the Somali national capital of Mogadishu, according to police.

The attack involved a lone bomber who detonated explosives vests near a petrol station 1 kilometer from Mogadishu’s soccer stadium, police said in a statement.

The stadium was hosting a match where thousands of spectators were inside. The statement said the bomber exploded as the security personnel were chasing the attacker.

The al-Qaeda affiliated terror group, al-Shabaab. claimed responsibility for the attack -- the second in the Horn of Africa nation in less than 24 hours.

Earlier Wednesday, the group launched predawn attacks on an army base.

Heavy gunfire was exchanged during the multi-pronged strike on the base in northern Mudug province, according to officials.

The group said it attacked bases housing 1,350 soldiers and killed more than 191.

Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats emanating from al-Shabaab and the Daesh/ISIS terror groups.

Since 2007, al-Shabaab has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) -- a multidimensional mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the UN Security Council.

The terror group has stepped up attacks since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected for a second term in 2022, declared an "all-out war" on the terror group.