at least 41 dead in Islamist attack in Mogadishu

At least 41 people were killed and 106 others injured on Friday (9 November) in an attack in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital. According to security sources and witnesses, two car bombs exploded almost simultaneously Friday afternoon near the Sahafi Hotel, where Somali politicians are staying.

A suicide bomber then activated his explosive vest in front of the hotel, already hit by an attack in 2015. Armed men tried unsuccessfully to enter the building before being shot.

An attack claimed by the Shebab

"More than 100 people were injured in yesterday's attack and some succumbed to their injuries in the night"said a security official, Abdirahman Osman. "Most of the people killed were civilians and nearly 20 of them died in minibuses pbading on the road at the time of the explosion.", explained a witness, Ibrahim Mohamed.

The attack was claimed by Islamist insurgents shebab, affiliated with Al Qaeda. Somali parliament speaker Mohamed Mursal accused the shebab of deliberately targeting civilians.