Sharjah 24 – Reuters: A suicide bomber killed at least 30 soldiers and wounded and wounded scores more inside a military academy in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Monday, a soldier who saw the bodies said, in an attack claimed by the al Shabaab terrorist group.
A military campaign launched by government forces and allied militiamen last year has forced the al Qaeda-linked group from large swathes of territory in southern Somalia, but the terrorist group have continued to stage deadly raids.
In recent weeks, with the military campaign against them stalled as the army prepares a second phase of the offensive, al Shabaab terrorists have stepped up their attacks.
The bombing on Monday targeted the Jale Siyaad military academy. A soldier at Mogadishu's military hospital who gave his name only as Ahmed said he had the bodies of 13 soldiers who were killed and 20 more who were wounded in the blast.
The victims hailed from the Lower Shabelle region and had come to the capital for training, said Captain Ali Farah, who knew some of them. He said he was aware of 10 deaths so far.
"The soldiers were being counted in the queue when the suicide bomber blew himself up," Farah said.
Al Shabaab terroist group said in a statement the bomber had killed 73 soldiers and wounded 124 others. The group typically gives casualty figures that are significantly higher than those provided by the authorities.
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