SOMALIA: Car bomb explodes in heart of Mogadishu wounding five people and triggering bursts of gunfire from police

Record ID: 357469

  • Title: SOMALIA: Car bomb explodes in heart of Mogadishu wounding five people and triggering bursts of gunfire from police
  • Date: 22nd March 2012
  • Summary: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (MARCH 21, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WRECKAGE FROM EXPLODED CAR BURNING OUTSIDE HOUSE AMBULANCE DRIVING DOWN ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) POLICE OFFICER, MOHAMED GARAR, SAYING: "The causalities of the explosion are five people wounded, including one journalist. We, the Somali police forces, are ready to protect our citizens from these evil people." VA
  • Embargoed: 6th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Somalia, Somalia
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA34SYGGGV42X0Q6QZ3D3KA8J52
  • Story Text: A car bomb exploded in the heart of the Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday (March 21), wounding five people and triggering bursts of gunfire from police.
    The blast adds pressure on the embattled U.N.-backed government struggling to secure the city against al Qaeda-linked Islamist rebels, even with the help of nearly 10,000 African troops.
    The blast happened in Mogadishu's busy administrative district.
    The police said five people had been wounded.
    "The causalities of the explosion are five people wounded, including one journalist. We, the Somali police forces, are ready to protect our citizens from these evil people," said Mohamed Garar.
    Witnesses told Reuters the car had been parked on the street, arousing the suspicions of security forces that blocked off traffic.
    "I was very shocked when I heard the news, the explosion happened right in front of my house. My family have survived, but they are all in a state of shock," said Yusuf Ali, a resident.
    Ali's family had fled their house just metres away moments before the bomb blew up.
    There was no immediate claim of responsibility. However, suspicion is likely to fall on Somalia's al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants, who are fighting a five-year long insurgency and control big chunks of central and southern Somalia.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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