The death toll has risen to 35 after two car bombings by the Al Shabaab terrorist group in the central Somali city of Mahas, Garowe Online has reported.
The terrorists allegedly moved the car bombs into Mahas through the Wahbo area of Galgadud, an area controlled by Al Shabaab after the army withdrew in mid-November after briefly seizing it shortly before.
The target of the first explosion was a house containing officials leading operations against Al Shabaab in the area, although it is not known whether they were inside at the time of the attack.
The second explosion also took place at the house of the governor of Mahas, Mumin Mohamed Halane, who was unharmed, according to the Jowar portal. Halane himself said in statements to the Somali state news agency SONNA that the attacks have caused a large number of victims and material damage.
Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the double suicide bombing in a message published through its propaganda channels, as reported by SITE Intelligence Group, an organization specialized in tracking terrorist groups.
Somalia has in recent months stepped up offensives against Al Shabaab with the support of local clans and militias as part of a series of decisions taken by the president, who promised on taking office to put the fight against terrorism at the center of his efforts to stabilize the African country.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
