Deadly bomb, gun attack targets government office in Somali town

Al-Shabab militants have killed 10 people in an attack on the local government headquarters in a town in north-central Somalia.

The attack was carried out in the town of Galkayo, in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region, on Sunday. Witnesses said they heard two huge consecutive explosions, followed by gunfire.

“There were two huge bombs. The first one was a truck bomb, followed a minute or so (later) by another car bomb. My brother was injured at the scene,” said Halima Ismail, a local resident.

Ali Ahmed, a police officer, said, “We have confirmed 10 people dead, including civilians and security forces.”

The al-Shabab militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying two car bombs were detonated in the area.

Government forces, backed by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), have been fighting the militancy by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab for several years.

The joint forces have successfully forced the Takfiri militants out of the capital Mogadishu, as well as other major cities. But al-Shabab militants continue to carry out sporadic attacks across the country.

The militants have also attacked targets in neighboring countries, including Kenya.