Six killed, 12 injured in Somalia restaurant blast  

Mogadishu: At least six people were killed while dozen other sustained injuries in a suspected suicide bombing at a restaurant in the Somali capital.

According to an official, the blast hit the restaurant on Thursday which is situated near a security checkpoint leading to the presidential palace. 

 “The area was densely populated when the blast occurred and some of the victims, most of them civilians, are seriously wounded,” security official added. 

Authorities revealed that the incident is still under investigation, in a bid to discover the exact details but preliminary observation indicates that someone carried out the blast.

Mogadishu’s Aamin Ambulance Service confirmed the fatalities in a statement sent to journalists, but said the attack had wounded 13.

The explosion was massive and the Somalian capital—Mogadishu has seen a spate of attacks in recent weeks as country limps through a political crisis caused by long-running disagreements over delayed elections.

Somalia’s president and prime minister have been at loggerheads over the process, which is more than a year late and has been marred by violence. 

Witnesses said the blast was massive and caused panic among the residents.

In the meantime, the militant group, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the bombing—saying its fighters targeted delegates selecting the upcoming Lower House lawmakers.