At least nine people have been killed after a car bomb exploded outside a prominent café packed with football fans in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The bomb went off on Sunday at about 10:28 p.m. local time as patrons at Top Coffee watched the Euro 2024 football final between Spain and England.
Mohamed Yusuf, an official from the National Security Agency, said, “Nine civilians were killed and 20 others wounded in the explosion,”
“There were many people inside the restaurant, most of them youth who were watching the football match… but thanks to God, most of them made their way out safely after using ladders to climb up and jump over the backside perimeter wall.” He added.
Terrorist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack that injured dozens more.
Witnesses say the restaurant was packed full, with some even seated on an extension outside as the bomb went off, sending people scrambling for safety. The explosion also damaged several cars and buildings.
Al-Shabaab has been waging a violent insurgency against Somalia’s fragile federal government for almost two decades, carrying out several bombings in Mogadishu and around the country.