Suicide attack kills 7 in central Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia

At least seven people including senior Somali military officials were killed and several others wounded when a suicide bomber targeted a football stadium in Galkayo, the capital of the central region of Mudug on Friday, police said.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ali Hussein, a police officer from Galmudug regional administration said a suicide bomber carried the attack.

" According to our information at least seven people were killed including several senior military officials but the casualties could rise at any moment,” he said.

Somali National Army Chief Odawa Yusuf Rageh also confirmed the attack on the state-run media.

Among the killed included Gen. Abdi Asics Abdullahi Qooje, the commander of Somalia's elite forces known as Danab in Mudug, Col. Mukhtar Abdi Adan, and other officials, according to the Somali military chief.

The town was preparing to welcome Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble who planned to visit the stadium.

Esse Mohamud Abdirahman, a 30 years old businessman who was at the stadium told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the scene was horrific. The blood, dead and wounded people were everywhere.

According to local media, more than 20 people including security forces and government officials were wounded in the attack who were rushed to Galkayo hospital for treatment.

Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the Friday attack. Taking to their online propaganda site, they said their target was the Somali prime minister.