MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s new president visited victims wounded by a Mogadishu car bomb that killed 34 on Sunday.
President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those who planned the blast. The explosion hit a busy marketplace in the western part of the capital, police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said.
“It was a horrific and barbaric attack only aimed at killing civilians,” Hussein said from the scene.
Sabriye Abdullahi, an ambulance driver, said some of the victims died on their way to hospitals.
“Many of them suffered extensive third-degree burns and others were burned beyond recognition,” he said.
The blast from a car parked near a restaurant went off when shoppers and traders were gathered inside the market, said district commissioner Ahmed Abdulle.
Mohamed Haji, a butcher who suffered shrapnel wounds, pointed to a clothes shop devastated by the explosion. “Someone had parked the car here and left before it was detonated,” he said. Pieces of wood and metal sheets on the ground were all that remained of the shop.
Women sobbed and screamed outside the market as rescue workers moved bloodied bodies and wounded victims into ambulances.
“It’s a painful carnage.” said Ali Mire, a soldier who was helping a friend with shrapnel wounds
The bombing was the first major attack since Somalia’s new president was elected on Feb.8. Although no group has yet claimed responsibility, it bears the hallmarks of Somalia’s Islamic extremists rebels, al-Shabab.
In addition to visiting the wounded, President Mohamed condemned the blast in a tweet, saying that it shows the “cruelty” of al-Shabab.
A few hours before the blast, al-Shabab denounced the new president as an “apostate” and vowed to continue fighting against his government.
Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, in condemning the attack, said that “Italy remains solidly on Somalia’s side in the process of the country’s stabilization.” He added that “together we will act so that the terrorists don’t succeed in stopping the path of peace and reconciliation that is underway.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.