According to authorities and the official news agency, Somalia’s government spokesman was injured on Sunday in an explosion at a traffic junction in the capital Mogadishu, which was set off by a suicide bomber.
Outside the home of Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, who was brought to the hospital, a Reuters photographer reported seeing body parts laying on the ground.
“A suicide bomber targeted the government spokesman, who is presently being treated in hospital for his blast-related injuries,” police spokesman Abdifatah Aden said.
Nasra Bashir Ali, a state media special correspondent in the prime minister’s office, where Moalimuu is based, said on Twitter that the attack, which targeted him as he drove by, did not result in life-threatening injuries.
The perpetrators of the attack were not immediately identified.
Al Shabaab, a militant group affiliated to al Qaeda, has previously claimed responsibility for gun and bomb attacks against Somali security and government targets, as well as civilians.
Al Shabaab wants to overthrow the UN-backed government and impose its own strict version of Islamic law. It also conducts attacks against African Union peacekeepers.
