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Attack on Somalia’s parliament

May 24, 2014

Militants in Mogadishu have carried out a multipronged complex attack against Somalia's parliament building involving a car bomb, suicide bomber and gunmen on foot. Al-Shabab has claimed the attacks.

https://p.dw.com/p/1C65v
Attack in Mogadishu
Image: Reuters

The ensuing melee left at least ten people dead, including some of the attackers and a soldier who tried to stopped a suicide bomber from entering the building, police and witnesses said. Local media reports said as many as 20 people may have been killed, including eight attackers.

Many members of parliament remained inside the building as the attack unfolded. A huge car bomb went off outside the gates of the parliament shortly before midday and smaller blasts followed by intense gunfire were heard coming from inside.

The al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for Saturday's assault. The group has carried out several such complex attacks in Mogadishu - among them one earlier this month on a government vehicle, an attempt on the presidential palace in February that left 16 dead, including members of the group, and assaults on a hotel that killed a dozen people in March.

Government forces drove Al-Shabab from the capital in 2011, but the group still controls broad areas of southern Somalia.

mkg/dr (Reuters, AFP, AP)