Dozens dead and wounded in two suicide bombings and a military operation in central Somalia

19 people, including 7 militants, were killed in two suicide bombings and a military operation in Hiran region, central Somalia.

A local official in the city of Jalalaqsi, said that “the cities of Jalalaqsi and Bulaporti in Hiran province witnessed two suicide bombings that targeted a security checkpoint and a bridge over the Shabelle River.”

The source, who asked not to be named, explained that “the first explosion targeted a security checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Jalalaqsi, with a car bomb driven by a suicide bomber, and left 11 people dead, including the city’s mayor Adam Muhammad Issa, while 5 others were wounded to varying degrees.”

“As for the second explosion, it was carried out by a tuk-tuk (a three-wheeled vehicle) and targeted a bridge in the city of Bulaborti, which led to the death of one person, the injury of others and the destruction of large parts of the bridge,” according to the source.

No party claimed responsibility for the two attacks, but the Somali authorities usually hold the terrorist “Al-Shabab” movement responsible for such bombings.