Explosion at Mogadishu Café Kills Five During Soccer Final Viewing

A bombing outside a café in Mogadishu on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least five people, according to police reports. The explosion occurred while some patrons were watching the European soccer final between Spain and England on a screen inside the café.

Maj. Abdifitah Aden Hassa, a spokesman for Somali police, stated that a car loaded with explosives detonated outside the café. He mentioned that at least 20 other individuals sustained injuries due to the blast.

Witness Accounts and Immediate Aftermath

Witness Ismail Adan described the chaotic scene, noting that some spectators were injured while attempting to jump over the café's perimeter wall. Others were hurt in a stampede. Most of the victims were on the street when the explosion happened.

Pictures shared online, purportedly from the scene, showed a fire burning outside the café following the explosion. The images highlighted the immediate aftermath and destruction caused by the blast.

Frequent Attacks by Al-Shabab

The identity of those responsible for the attack remains unclear. However, attacks by the Islamic militant group al-Shabab are common in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia. The group opposes Somalia's federal government, which relies on foreign troops for support.

Despite recent months of relative peace in Mogadishu, this calm was disrupted on Saturday by an attempted jailbreak at a local prison. In that incident, at least eight people died as prisoners convicted for their roles in al-Shabab attacks exchanged fire with prison guards before being killed.

Government Offensive Against Extremists

The Somali government is currently engaged in a significant offensive against al-Shabab. The U.S. has labelled al-Shabab as one of al-Qaida's deadliest organizations. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has declared "total war" against these extremists.

Al-Shabab controls large areas of central and southern Somalia and has been targeted by numerous U.S. airstrikes in recent years. The government's efforts aim to weaken the group's hold and restore stability to affected regions.

This latest bombing underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Somalia in its fight against extremism. The attack highlights the persistent threat posed by militant groups despite ongoing efforts to combat them.