Mogadishu – A powerful car bomb detonated outside a popular restaurant in Somalia’s capital on Sunday evening, killing at least five people and injuring 20 others, authorities said. The attack occurred as patrons were gathered to watch the final match of the Euro 2024 football tournament.
Police blamed the Islamist militant group Al Shabaab for the explosion, which caused significant damage to nearby buildings and vehicles. A Reuters journalist at the scene reported that at least 10 cars were destroyed in the blast, which took place in a heavily guarded area close to the presidential palace.
Al Shabaab, in a statement broadcast on an affiliated radio station, claimed responsibility for the attack, targeting a venue frequented by security and government officials. The group has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government for years, aiming to establish a strict Islamic state.
Despite losing substantial territory to government forces and their allies in recent years, Al Shabaab continues to carry out deadly attacks in Mogadishu and other parts of the country.
