Authorities in Mogadishu have confirmed that the number of those killed by suspected Al-Shabaab attack on Saturday has hit 90.
Initially, the Somalia government said that 30 people had succumbed, a total contrast of the pictures taken from the scene.
A car bomb exploded West of Mogadishu near a police checkpoint, near a tax collection centre.
Mogadishu Mayor Omar Muhamoud said the government confirmed at least 90 civilians, mostly students, had been injured in the explosion.
Earlier, Abdrizack Mohamed, an MP in Federal Government, insisted that 90 people had been killed, causing confusion among members of the public and the media.
"I was informed the death toll stands over 90 including 17 Somali police officers, 73 civilians and 4 foreign nationals. May Allah have mercy on the victims of this barbaric attack," he wrote.
After the sound of Saturday’s huge blast at the Ex-Control checkpoint, 55-year-old Sabdow Ali, who lives nearby, said he left his house and counted at least 13 people dead.
“Dozens of injured people were screaming for help but the police immediately opened fire and I rushed back to my house,” he told Reuters.
This is the worst attack since 2017, and the death toll is expected to surpass 100 given critical injuries that were reported.