A female suicide bomber linked to Al-Shabaab militants on Wednesday killed seven people in a building hosting Mogadishu Mayor Omar Osman, it has been reported.
Several other people who were within were critically injured during the blast, the second deadly attack within then troubled city in a span of three days.
“The blast injured many local officials including my cousin,” said Mohamed Abdullahi.
“The Mogadishu mayor is also injured ... A suicide bomber walked into the meeting hall and blew up himself.”
Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility of Mogadishu explosions, adding that they intended to target newly-appointed United Nations envoy James Swan who met the Mayor of Mogadishu earlier on Wednesday.
Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman’s situation has been described as “serious” and is admitted in a facility within Mogadishu.
Preliminary investigations by security forces indicated that female suicide bomber was behind the explosion at Mogadishu Mayor’s office.
The woman, security sources added, was “assisting” special needs coordinator at Mayor’s office, a blind female worker, who was also killed in the explosion.
Mr Swan, who Al-Shabaab claim was their major target, condemned the attack. He insisted that United Nations will continue standing with the people of Somalia.
“I deplore this heinous attack which not only demonstrates a violent disregard for the sanctity of human life, but also targets Somalis working to improve the lives of their fellow Somalis in the Mogadishu-Banadir region,” Mr. Swan said.
“The United Nations stands with the people and government of Somalia in their rejection of such terrorist acts, and our thoughts are with the victims of this attack.”
A fortnight ago, Al-Shabaab militants attacked an hotel in Kismayo, killing 27 people. KDF troops in the port town managed to repulse them after 12 hours of intensive fighting.