At least six dead as suicide car bomb targets local gov't office in Somalia

A local government office in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, has been destroyed after a suicide car bomb rammed into it on Monday, leaving at least six people dead, the director of an ambulance service and a police officer told Reuters.

“We have carried six dead people and 16 others injured. The death toll may rise,” Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of Amin Ambulance service, told Reuters.

A Reuters witness saw five bodies lying at the blast scene and body parts of a sixth person.

“A suicide car bomb rammed into the office of Hodan district of Mogadishu. There are casualties but so far we do not have a figure,” major Mohamed Nur, a police officer.

Witnesses said the office was destroyed.

“A speeding 4×4 car ran into the district office,” witness Hussein Osman told Reuters.

“I ran away and now I see from far the office completely destroyed. I see ambulances carrying casualties but I cannot make out how many dead or injured. I could see five people being taken by ambulance.”

Last week, a suicide car bomb destroyed another district office of Mogadishu.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab frequently carry out bombings and gun attacks in the capital Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia.

They are fighting to topple Somalia’s Western-backed central government and establish their own rule based on their strict interpretation of Islamic law.