The death toll from the attack on a café in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, has risen to nine, according to security sources.
This figure marks an increase from the previously reported five fatalities, all victims of a car bomb explosion outside the cafe.
Abdullahi Adan Hassan, a spokesperson for the Somali police, informed reporters that the attack occurred while patrons were watching the final match of the Euro 2024 Championship between Spain and England.
The car bomb detonated outside the cafe, injuring over 20 other individuals in addition to the fatalities.
Images circulating online, purportedly from the scene, show a fire blazing outside the café following the explosion.
Eyewitness Ismail Adan told the Associated Press via phone that some spectators were injured while attempting to leap over the café’s surrounding wall, while others were hurt in the ensuing stampede.
Adan added that most victims were in the street at the time of the explosion.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. However, attacks by the militant group Al-Shabaab are frequently reported in Mogadishu and other Somali cities.
Saturday also witnessed an attempted jailbreak from a Mogadishu prison. In this incident, which resulted in at least eight deaths, inmates convicted of conducting attacks for Al-Shabaab exchanged gunfire with prison guards before being killed.
The Mogadishu cafe attack underscores the ongoing security challenges in Somalia, where violence from extremist groups continues to impact civilian life.
