MOGADISHU: A suicide bomber driving a truck laden with explosives targeted a security checkpoint in the town of Beledweyne, central Somalia, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals and leaving 20 others wounded, according to local police.
Ahmed Yare Adan, a local police officer, told AFP news agency that the victims included 13 deceased, the majority of whom were civilians in proximity to the explosion. He further reported that around 20 injured individuals were swiftly transported to hospitals. He feared that the casualty count could rise as more information becomes available.
#BREAKING: A suspected suicide vehicle explosion rocks #Beledweyne, central #Somalia, causing multiple deaths and injuries, say eyewitnesses. The blast is reported to be the most powerful in the area in recent memory. pic.twitter.com/5JJmBv0Qha
— Hanad Mohamed (@HanadM) September 23, 2023
A mother crying can be heard moments after a deadly car bomb explosion struck #Beledweyne town, Somalia.
Multiple people have been killed in the blast and scores injured.#Somalia pic.twitter.com/8P49a1RqDC— Suleiman Koronto (@SuleimanSabdow2) September 23, 2023
Blast Destruction in Somalia
The suicide attack not only claimed lives but also caused significant damage to nearby structures, resulting in people being trapped under the debris. An immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing was not made.
Abdukadir Yasin, another police officer who arrived at the scene following the blast, noted that rescue teams were actively working to extract injured survivors from the rubble. He expressed the enormity of the destruction caused, stating that more than ten fatalities were confirmed at the time and that the death toll might increase.
The incident unfolded amidst a backdrop of Somalia’s government conceding to facing “several significant setbacks” in its ongoing fight against the Al-Shabaab militant group. For over 15 years, Al-Shabaab has waged an insurgency aimed at overthrowing the fragile internationally-backed government in Mogadishu.
