Deadly car bomb targets busy cafe in the Somali capital

Al-Shabab group claims deadly attack on the cafe as people watched the 2024 Euro final.

A car bomb has exploded outside a cafe in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, killing at least nine and injuring several others as patrons were watching the final of the Euro 2024 football tournament on TV, the government said.

The al-Qaeda-linked armed group, al-Shabab, has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s deadly attack via an affiliated radio station, saying the bombing targeted a place where security and government workers meet at night.

Mohamed Yusuf, an official from the national security agency told the AFP news agency on Monday, raising the official toll of five given by the authorities late Sunday.

“Nine civilians were killed and 20 others wounded in the explosion,” he said.

“There were many people inside the restaurant, most of them youth who were watching the football match… but thanks to God, most of them made their way out safely after using ladders to climb up and jump over the backside perimeter wall,” Yusuf added.