Car bomb blast in Somali capital kills 7

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia

At least seven people were killed and six others wounded when a car bomb blast hit a busy restaurant in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, a government official said Thursday.

Abdifatah Omar Hallane, Mogadishu municipality's spokesman, told reporters in a news conference that the bomb-laden vehicle was a luxury car parked near the restaurant.

"The blast targeted a restaurant and a civilian minibus. At least seven people were killed and more than six others wounded," he said.

The injured have been rushed to hospital for treatment.

Sharif Abbas Adan, a 50-year-old eyewitness, told Anadolu Agency over the phone that he saw bodies lying everywhere and people crying for help.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

In the past insurgent group al-Shabaab has claimed attacks in Somalia.

The attack comes hours after Internal Security Minister Mohamed Abukar Islow said he would step down if security forces in the city failed to arrest gunmen who killed five people earlier this week.