Somalia: Death toll from truck attack rises to 358

By Mohammed Dhaysane and Hassan Istilla

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Somali authorities on Friday evening announced the death toll from last Saturday's deadly truck bomb attack in the capital Mogadishu had risen to 358.

"The attack claimed 642 victims, including 358 deaths and 228 injuries, with 56 other people also missing," Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman told a press conference.

A total of 122 seriously injured people were airlifted for medical treatment in Turkey, Kenya, and Sudan, he added.

Internal Security Minister Mohamed Abukar Islow said the government had arrested several people over the deadly attack.

Meanwhile, the Somali National Army retook control of the Mareerey, Sabiible and Anoole districts in southern Somalia's Lower Shabeelle region on Friday, according to the region's governor, Ibrahim Adan Ali Najah.

The militant group al-Shabaab, blamed for the deadly bombing, evacuated the districts after learning that a well-armed force was heading their way, he added.

Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire declared war against al-Shabaab after the truck bomb attack.