Death toll rises to 29 in twin bombings in Somalia

By Mohammed Dhaysane and Hassan Istilla

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least 29 people were killed and dozens wounded after double car bomb blasts rocked the Somalia capital on Friday evening, emergency officials said Saturday.

The first bomb went off near the presidential palace followed by a gunfight between security forces and al-Shabaab attackers, according to state media.

Internal Security Minister Mohamed Abukar Islow confirmed that security forces had killed five al-Shabaab attackers after an hour-long battle.

The second blast targeted a security checkpoint near the national intelligence and security agency headquarters in Mogadishu.

Abdulqadir Hussien Mohamed, a doctor at Madina Hospital, said they had received 29 bodies and 12 injured people.

Other hospitals including Darul-shifa, Erdogan and Umma received 15, 7 and 16 injured, respectively, local media reported.

Islow said that the government would soon announce the death toll from the attacks.

Friday's double attack comes a day after Islow issued a warning of terrorist attacks at a Cabinet meeting.

According to local media, Somali-based insurgent group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attacks on Friday evening.

Last October, at least 300 people died in a previous double car bombing in Mogadishu, the deadliest attack in modern Somali history.