A suicide bombing at a cafe outside a police training school in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, has claimed the lives of seven people and injured six others, Al Jazeera reports.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday, targeted a cafe frequented by both police officers and civilians, who were gathered for tea at the time of the explosion.
The Somali police confirmed that both officers and civilians were among the victims. A paramedic at Madina Hospital reported that several injured people are currently receiving treatment.
Al-Shabab, the armed group linked to al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group frequently targets military and state institutions in its ongoing campaign to overthrow the Somali government.
Witnesses described a swift response from rescue workers following the explosion.
This latest attack follows a similar incident in August, where a bombing on a public beach in Mogadishu killed more than 30 people, sparking protests against al-Shabab.
The Somali government has relied heavily on the support of foreign troops to maintain its grip on power. It has also joined forces with local armed groups to fight al-Shabab in a campaign backed by the African Union force and US air raids.
Somalia is currently preparing to take over security responsibilities from foreign troops, whose deployment under the African Transition Mission in Somalia is scheduled to end in December.
