MOGADISHU, Somalia, April 14 (UPI) — A terrorist group with links to al-Qaida claimed responsibility for Sunday’s raid on the Somali capital of Mogadishu.
The Islamist militant group al-Shabaab said six of its fighters died in the assault on the city’s central courthouse and a car bombing that killed four people, including two Turkish aid workers, the BBC said.
At least 20 people died in the attacks — 16 at the courthouse, where a squad of gunmen went in shooting and then set off at least one bomb.
The government said the death toll included nine attackers.
“Everyone ran for their lives,” a witness told China’s official Xinhua news agency. “There was shooting and explosions all around. Many people were injured or killed the gunmen fired indiscriminately at the people. They wanted to kill everyone.”
Al-Shabaab has been carrying out a campaign of violence against the government in recent years.
Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).