Three killed, 7 injured in explosion in busy Somalia market

The IED blast occurred in the busy market in the town of Baidoa in the Bay region, about 250 km to the northwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

News Keydmedia Online
28 May 2021

BAIDOA, Somalia - An enormous explosion killed at least three people and wounded seven others on Friday in a market for the stimulant leaf khat in southern Somalia, local police said.

The IED blast occurred in the busy market in the town of Baidoa in the Bay region, about 250 km to the northwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Police said they were investigating the deadly explosion that was caused by a bomb planted inside the market which is frequented by Southwest state soldiers for buying Khat.

“The blast at the khat kiosks killed at least 3 people, including soldiers. We are examining the blast,” police officer, Capt Mohamed Hussein, told KON, adding "the death toll likely to rise".

It was not immediately clear who was behind the blast. In past incidents, the al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for such attacks in Somalia.

Despite losing ground, Al-Shabaab has been fighting to overthrow Somalia’s central government and expel the African Union forces [AMISOM] numbering 22,000 soldiers.

Since being pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011 by Somali and AU troops, the group has lost control of most of its strongholds. But it still continues to stage car bombs in the capital.

KEYDMEDIA English