A suicide bomber in a crowded Somali restaurant killed at least 13 people and injured an additional 18, police in Somalia said.
The crowd at the Beledweyne, Somalia, restaurant included prominent politicians and local officials, likely the target of Saturday’s attack. The al Shabab militant group, which has been leading attacks in Somalia for over a decade, is known to target the Somali government and claimed responsibility.
One of the people killed Saturday was a candidate in the country’s parliamentary elections, witnesses told Reuters.
WATCH: THIEVES RAID MILITARY MUSEUM IN ISRAEL FOR DECOMMISSIONED WEAPONS
Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Roble condemned the restaurant attack, according to a tweet from Somali National Television.
“Prime Minister Roble has condemned the Saturday’s cowardly terrorist attack in Beledweyne and sent his heavy-hearted condolences to families of the victims,” the tweet read. “The PM wished speedy recovery for the wounded victims.”
A smaller bombing occurred in the town of Bosaso in the Somali state of Puntland, Somali National Television confirmed. Two people were killed and five others were injured in the small attack on a tea shop.
Al Shabab was also responsible for another bombing in Somalia earlier this week, as well as a different bombing earlier this month that killed six election delegates, according to a report by SITE Intelligence, which monitors militant groups.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Somalia’s elections started Nov. 1, 2021, and were expected to conclude in December. However, they are now expected to be completed on Friday as a result of the country’s electoral procedures.
