MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A suicide bomb attack claimed by the Al-Qaeda-aligned militant group Al-Shabaab targeted an army recruitment center in Somalia’s capital on Sunday.
A suicide bomber blew himself up in a column of youths lined up to enlist outside a recruitment center for US-funded Danab Somali special forces.
Al-Shabaab has immediately claimed responsibility, saying it killed 32 recruits and wounded 40 others in the attack. It’s the 7th attack claimed by the armed to have taken place in Somalia within 24 hours.
Witnesses say ambulances with blaring sirens could be seen racing with wounded people from the explosion scene. Casualties have not been immediately known since security forces sealed off the area.
The attacks have come a week after Al-Shabaab spokesman Ali Dhere vowed that the group’s response would be swift following Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s declaration of war against insurgents.
Analysts say the brazen attacks are designed to challenge assertions by Somali authorities that joint Somali, African Union and US military operations against the group could weaken the resolve of its fighters.
“A spike in terror attacks in Somalia, East Africa – highly likely – one way of group asserting it is still not out, can inflict pain,” Rashid Abdi, a Horn of Africa regional analyst tweeted.
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