Death toll rises to 20 after blasts in central Somalia

A third car bomb blast occurred at the city’s main hospital while busy receiving the victims of the first explosions and it caused fatalities and injuries, according to the medics.

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Death toll rises to 20 after blasts in central Somalia

BELEDWEYNE, Somalia - The death toll from three Al-Shabaab bomb blasts in central Somalia on Monday climbed to at least 20 with dozens of others injured, health and security officials have confirmed.

The simultaneous bombings which were used vehicles packed with explosives happened at Lama-Galay military base and a hospital in eastern Beledweyne city roughly 300 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

The attack was the second deadliest to strike the town since March of this year when a suicide bomber and a car bomb killed over 50 people, including female Somali MP Amina Abdi in the same area.

Monday’s thrice blasts came days after the Somali army along with vigilantes seized control of dozens of villages from the militant group in the Hiran region during one of the largest military operations in years.

Lama Galay base camp serves as the headquarters of the region and used to host HirShabelle stat leader Ali Gudlawe, the region’s governor and his deputy as well as other key officials for security reasons.

The first two truck bombs were detonated by suicide bombers, one at the gate and the second inside the base as officials gathered to discuss the ongoing offensive against Al-Shabaab and the city’s security.

Hiran’s deputy governor Abukar Madey and HirShabelle state’s minister of health were among the dead while scores sustained wounds in the attack that shattered the entire buildings within the facility.

A third car bomb blast occurred at the city’s main hospital while busy receiving the victims of the first explosions and it caused fatalities and injuries, according to the medics.

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and PM Hamza Abdi Barre both have condemned the attack and sent heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the terrorist incident.

In August this year, Mohamud declared an all-out war against Al-Shabaab after 21 people were killed in a 30-hour siege at Hayat hotel in Mogadishu’s K4 junction area by Al-Shabaab.

KEYDMEDIA English

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