Twin bomb attacks injure several in Somalia: Police

Two consecutive bomb attacks have injured several people at a restaurant in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, police sources report.

Abdi Adan, a Somali police officer, said that two bombers attacked the Village restaurant in Mogadishu on Saturday.

“Other people who stayed in the place were injured. We are still investigating the casualties,” said Adnan.

Ahmed Salad Ibrahim, an eyewitness, said that a security guard at the restaurant had been killed in the explosion. However, police sources did not immediately confirm the report.

Idle Husien, another witness, also said there had been a “heavy exchange of gunfire before the heavy explosions,” adding that he could see the injured people and dead bodies of the bombers.

In September, at least 14 people were killed and more than 37 others injured in double bomb attacks at a restaurant which is popular with civil servants and journalists and is close to the presidential palace in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Somalia has not had an effective central government since 1991 when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Lawmakers meeting in Mogadishu elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new president of Somalia with a big majority on September 10, 2012.