At least 13 people were killed in the central Somali city of Beledwein on Saturday, state television said, after a suicide bomber blew himself up at a restaurant that witnesses said was packed with local officials and politicians.
According to a report by SITE Intelligence, the Al Shabaab terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which tracks terrorist groups online.
Somali National Television said on Twitter that the radical Islamist group, which frequently attacks government targets and civilians, had carried out two attacks in the past two weeks. 18 more people were injured in the Beledwein attack.
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A witness in Beledwein said he helped evacuate the wounded after the morning attack.
“I counted seven dead, including soldiers and civilians, and more than ten wounded,” Aden Farah, a local veteran, told Reuters.
Police and government officials confirmed that the restaurant attack was the result of a suicide bomb, but did not specify casualties.
Unknown people killed and injured in bomb blast #beledwayne Ahead of the proposed lower house election in the city.
It comes a day after being heavily armed #nysa The soldiers reached the town on Friday. #somalia pic.twitter.com/nqtE9SxeO3— Abdul Ahmed Moomin (@Cabdalleaxmed) February 19, 2022
Residents said one of those killed in the attack in Beledwein was a candidate for the current parliamentary election.
Parliamentary elections began on 1 November and were initially scheduled to end on 24 December, but are currently scheduled to be completed on 25 February.
Under Somalia’s indirect electoral process, representatives, who include clan elders, elect members of the lower house, who will then choose a new president on a date to be decided.
The recent attacks by al-Shabaab could present more problems for the election, which has been delayed for a year.
Al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab aims to topple the central government and enforce its dire interpretation of Islamic law.