MOGADISHU, Somalia [SMN] – Mogadishu was hit by an explosion in the Hodan district on Friday, July 14, the latest in a series of attacks in Somalia by Al-Shabaab militants.
The suicide blast occurred near the Ministry of Defense and targeted the deputy commissioner of Marka district on finance, Abdi Ahmed Yusuf, according to the police.
At least five people were injured. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack became one of the Al-Shabaab plots in Mogadishu since the government launched an offensive against the militant group last year which recorded territorial gains.
Al-Shabaab controlled a vast area of Somalia before being pushed back in government counteroffensives since last year.
However, the militants remain capable of launching significant attacks on government, commercial, and military targets.
In late May, its fighters attacked a base housing Ugandan peacekeepers 80 miles (130km) southwest of Mogadishu, killing 54 soldiers.
