(August 21,2016) Death toll from double blasts in Somalia rises to 23

MOGADISHU (HOL) – The death toll from twin suicide bombings that ripped through a government office in central Somali town has risen to 23, one of the deadliest attacks the town has seen in recent years, police officials said Sunday.

The blasts occurred after a suicide bomber detonated his suicide vest at the gates of the local government’s headquarters in Galkayo town, followed by another thunderous blast by a suicide car bomber at a nearby marketplace.

Local officials told HOL that the second blast had caused most of the causalities as a suicide car bomber struck first responders to the initial attack and emergency personnel gathered at the site.

More than 40 people reportedly remain at the hospital, with most of them suffered horrific wounds.

The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group has claimed the responsibility for the double blasts that unnerved the sleepy central Somali town which had rarely seen such attacks.

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condemned the ‘callous’ attack by ‘terrorists’ on ‘innocent’ people in the town.Mr. Mohamud said that the group is waging ‘indiscriminate’ attacks as result of recent military setbacks it suffered in the hands of the country ‘military’ and partner forces.

In recent months, Somali and US forces have staged several raids on rebel-held town, in what military officials called as ‘enemy debilitating operations’.

The group which is waging a deadly guerilla war across large parts of Somalia has vowed more attacks at a time the horn of Africa nation, raising fears that such violence would disrupt the upcoming presidential elections scheduled to be held later this year.