Somalia Truck Bombings Kill Nearly 300, Officials Say
- 7 years ago
Somalia Truck Bombings Kill Nearly 300, Officials Say
MOGADISHU, Somalia — The death toll from twin truck bombings in Somalia’s capital rose to nearly 300 on Sunday, officials
said, as emergency crews pulled more bodies from burned cars and demolished buildings after the Saturday blasts.
The United States Mission to Somalia condemned the bombings, calling them “cowardly attacks”
that “reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism.”
The Qatar Embassy was severely damaged in the explosion, the country’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said in a statement, adding that the chargé d’affaires had been slightly injured
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of national mourning and called for donations of blood and funds to help the victims.
“I call on our citizens to come out, extend help, donate blood and comfort the bereaved,” said the president, who donated blood on Sunday.
Officials called the explosions on Saturday one of the deadliest attacks to hit the capital, Mogadishu, since an Islamist insurgency began in 2007.
“There was a traffic jam, and the road was packed with bystanders and cars,” Abdinur Abdulle, a waiter at a nearby restaurant, said on Saturday.
MOGADISHU, Somalia — The death toll from twin truck bombings in Somalia’s capital rose to nearly 300 on Sunday, officials
said, as emergency crews pulled more bodies from burned cars and demolished buildings after the Saturday blasts.
The United States Mission to Somalia condemned the bombings, calling them “cowardly attacks”
that “reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism.”
The Qatar Embassy was severely damaged in the explosion, the country’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said in a statement, adding that the chargé d’affaires had been slightly injured
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of national mourning and called for donations of blood and funds to help the victims.
“I call on our citizens to come out, extend help, donate blood and comfort the bereaved,” said the president, who donated blood on Sunday.
Officials called the explosions on Saturday one of the deadliest attacks to hit the capital, Mogadishu, since an Islamist insurgency began in 2007.
“There was a traffic jam, and the road was packed with bystanders and cars,” Abdinur Abdulle, a waiter at a nearby restaurant, said on Saturday.