At least 30 dead in Baidoa, Somalia, bombings

Feb 29, 2016

The explosions shredded the roofs of nearby buildings, tore chunks out of vehicles and left bodies, plastic chairs and tables strewn across the road

At least 30 people have been killed in twin bomb attacks claimed by Al Shabab Islamists in the Somali city of Baidoa, the regional governor said Monday.

"The official number of the dead has reached 30 people -- all of them civilians -- and 61 others have been wounded, 15 of them seriously," Abdurashid Abdulahi, governor of Bay region, told AFP.

An initial car bomb struck a popular restaurant in a busy part of the regional capital on Sunday afternoon, with a suicide bomber nearby hitting people as they fled the area.

"The explosion occurred in a densely populated area," said Abdirahman Ibrahim, a police officer in Baidoa.

mother stands by her child laying in a bed at edina hospital on ebruary 27 2016 in ogadishu the day after the attack on hotel t least 14 people were killed on ebruary 26 as twin blasts and gunfire rocked a hotel and neighbouring park in central ogadishu police said in an attack claimed by the laedalinked hebab militants

A mother stands by her child laying in a bed at Medina hospital on February 27, 2016 in Mogadishu, the day after the attack on SYL hotel. At least 14 people were killed on February 26 as twin blasts and gunfire rocked a hotel and neighbouring park in central Mogadishu, police said, in an attack claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab militants. / AFP / MOHAMED ABDIWAHAB

Another policeman, Abdi Hared, said there were "twin blasts" from a car bomb and a suicide bomber.

The explosions shredded the roofs of nearby buildings, tore chunks out of vehicles and left bodies, plastic chairs and tables strewn across the road.

The Al-Qaeda aligned Al Shabab jihadists claimed responsiblity for the attacks, saying local officials were targeted.

"The mujahideen carried out two massive explosions in Baidoa targeting restaurants used by members of the apostate South West Administration," the Shebab said in a statement.

omali soldiers and resident stand near wreckage car and buildings on ebruary 27 2016 in ogadishu omalia t least 14 people were killed on ebruary 26 as twin blasts and gunfire rocked a hotel and neighbouring park in central ogadishu police said in an attack claimed by the laedalinked hebab militants

Somali soldiers and resident stand near wreckage car and buildings on February 27, 2016, in Mogadishu, Somalia. At least 14 people were killed on February 26 as twin blasts and gunfire rocked a hotel and neighbouring park in central Mogadishu, police said, in an attack claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab militants. / AFP / MOHAMED ABDIWAHAB

The regional administration in Baidoa is protected by troops of the 22,000-strong African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which is protecting the internationally-backed government of Somalia.

The African Union's top official for Somalia, Francisco Caetano Madeira, condemned Sunday's attack. "I am saddened by the loss of innocent lives through acts of terror committed by ruthless individuals who have no value for life," he said.

On Friday Al Shabab gunmen stormed a hotel in the capital Mogadishu and bombed a nearby park killing at least 14 people and wounding 18.