Somalia's homegrown Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabab, have claimed responsibility for a truck bomb in the capital, Mogadishu, that killed at least 79 people last week, including many students.
The claim of responsibility was made by the group's spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage in an audio post on pro-al-Shabab websites. Al-Shabab, which is allied to al-Qaida, carries out frequent bombings in the capital.
The explosion came at rush hour Saturday as Somalia returned to work after its weekend. Most of those killed were university and other students returning to class. Somalis mourned the deaths of so many young people in a country trying to rebuild itself after decades of conflict. Some analysts had said that al-Shabab would not claim responsibility for the bomb, as it would make the rebels unpopular with Somalis who want peace and stability.
Al-Shabab is now able to make its own explosives, its "weapon of choice," United Nations experts monitoring sanctions on Somalia said earlier this year. The group had previously relied on military-grade explosives captured during assaults on an African Union peacekeeping force.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Somalia bombing kills dozens; airstrikes target militantsA truck bomb exploded at a busy security checkpoint in Somalia's capital Saturday morning, killing at least 78 people including many students, authorities said. It was the worst attack in Mogadishu since the devastating 2017 bombing that killed hundreds.
Read more »
Somalia blast kills one sister, badly injures the otherThe two Somali sisters were studying to be doctors. They were in a minibus on their way to university on Saturday morning when their world exploded.
Read more »
How a Winnipeg entrepreneur is using Mother Nature’s deadly weapon to fight antibiotic-resistant superbugsOne to watch: Steven Theriault’s research on bacteriophages has put him at the cutting edge of a potential bio-medical revolution
Read more »
Former spouses, same rare brain cancer: They don't think it's a coincidenceThey were both diagnosed with a rare and deadly brain cancer within two weeks of each other.
Read more »
New claim against ex-social worker accused of stealing fundsMore allegations filed against Robert Riley Saunders, who was previously alleged to have defrauded dozens of kids in his care.
Read more »
Cyprus court finds British woman guilty of fabricating rape claimsThe woman, who says she is innocent and will appeal the ruling, was found guilty of the charge of ‘public mischief,’ which carries a maximum fine of 1,700 euros and up to a year imprisonment
Read more »