Bomb attack kills 6 in central Somalia

At least six people have been killed and several others injured in a bomb attack carried out in central Somalia, police and residents say.

Major Hussein Osman, a police officer, said the bombing in the central city of Beledweyne on Sunday afternoon rocked a restaurant outside the office of the governor of Hiran region where he was holding a meeting.

Beledweyne is located about 340 kilometers north of the capital Mogadishu.

"A bomber blew up himself in a restaurant," the officer said.

Farah Ali, a local elder, said clan elders were among the dead. "The bomber, who had an explosive jacket, stood inside the restaurant and blew up himself. We were heading to a meeting in the governor’s office when it happened."

Abdiasis Abu Musab, a spokesman for the Takfiri al-Shabab terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for the assault. "We are behind the attack at the Hiran governor's headquarters. There are casualties. We targeted the workers of the Hiran administration."

The al-Qaeda-linked group has in the past carried out frequent attacks in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia in a bid to topple the country's government and drive out African Union peacekeeping troops.

SS