Somalia: Al-Shabaab claim responsibility for deadly car bombing in central Mogadishu May 8 /update 1

Event

According to police reports, at least five people, including a senior military general, were reportedly killed and ten other people wounded in a large car bomb attack in central Mogadishu shortly before 18:00 (local time) on Monday, May 8. The attack took place on Makkah Almukarramah Avenue, near an Italian coffee shop and across from the immigration directorate in the city. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they were targeting national security and immigration officials.

The same day, at least two soldiers were reportedly killed and two others injured in a roadside explosion in Kabtanlas village, near the town of Qoryoley, in the Lower Shabelle region, in what is a suspected Al-Shabaab attack.

Context

Mogadishu frequently experiences attacks by Al-Shabaab, which continues to control large zones in the south and center of the country. The group often targets government officials and military infrastructure in a bid to topple the Western- and United Nations-backed government and impose its own strict interpretation of Islam in Somalia. Attacks targeting government soldiers are also commonplace outside of the capital.

Advice

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise their citizens against all travel to Somalia; professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.