Local authorities said report up to ten people were killed Monday in Somalia when a heavy blast hit a United Nations bus in the northeastern town of Garowe. The total number of casualties is still unclear. It is known that al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.
#BREAKING At least 10 mostly #UN staff confirmed dead in the car bomb. Officials #Somalia
— Mogadishu News (@MogadishuNews) 20 апреля 2015
"A blast hit the bus carrying workers to the UN office in Garowe. At least nine people died including two Kenyans and seven Somali guards," Mohamed Abdi, a police officer told the press from the scene.
The device is believed to have been attached to the minibus and was detonated near the UN office.
Photo from the scene of car bomb outside #UN office in #Somalia's #Garoowe city which killed at least 9. pic.twitter.com/VaLc2qlwfl
— Mohamed Bashle (@mohamedbashle) 20 апреля 2015
The town of Garowe, located in the northeastern region of Somalia, is the capital of the semi-autonomous Puntland region.
"Investigations are still ongoing to establish how it happened but I can confirm you that the UN compound was not affected," Mohamed added.
The clan-based Islamists took over most of southern Somalia in 2006 using it as a launching pad for attacks across the country and in neighboring nations. They seek to establish an Islamic State in Somalia based on the principles of Salafism under strict Sharia law, and to spread Islam throughout the Horn of Africa and beyond.
