Araweelo News Network

Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre

Mogadishu(ANN)-MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Latest on a suicide car bomb blast in Somalia’s capital (all times local):

Somalia’s prime minister is condemning the suicide car bomb blast in Mogadishu that left at least 15 dead, saying the attack targeted civilians preparing for Eid celebrations.

The al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility.

Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire says the attack demonstrated the extremists’ ”evil-mindedness” and says it will not derail the Horn of Africa country’s efforts toward peace and stability.

the death toll from a suicide car bomb blast at a district headquarters in Somalia’s capital has risen to 15.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein says that toll may rise. At least nine people were wounded, with some badly hurt.

Hussein says most of the dead are civilians.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility for the attack via its Shahada News Agency, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.

police officer says a suicide car bomber has detonated at a district headquarters in Somalia’s capital, killing at least seven people.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the bomber posing as a milk delivery van sneaked into the Wadajir district headquarters in Mogadishu.

Hussein says most of the dead are civilians.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility for the attack via its Shahada News Agency, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.

The blast comes less than a week after al-Shabab gunmen carried out an overnight siege on a popular restaurant in the Somali capital, killing at least 31 people.

Source: The Associated Press