Mogadishu, March 24,(dpa/GNA) – At least 48 people were killed, including one member of parliament, and another 108 were injured on Wednesday when two suicide bombers struck in the regional capital of Beledweyne in central Somalia.
Lawmaker Amina Mohamed, who was in Beledweyne campaigning ahead of upcoming elections, was among those killed by the suicide bombers, along with other politicians and members of the security forces, police spokesperson Hassan Dhi’isow told dpa.
According to reports, the first suicide bomber targeted Mohamed, while, minutes later, a second suicide bomber driving a car targeted the military vehicles carrying the victims of the first explosion.
The attack was claimed by the Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab via the Andalus radio station.
The attack came on the same day as al-Shabaab terrorists, forced their way into Mogadishu’s airport, killing eight, according to Somali officials.
Somalia is currently on edge as elections are underway, following several postponements.
The country of around 16 million, situated in the Horn of Africa, has been plagued by violence at the hands of al-Shabaab for years. The terrorist group, which controls vast swathes of land in the south and central regions, frequently attacks security forces and civilians.
GNA