Middle Shabelle, Somalia – At least five civilians were killed and nearly ten others injured on Friday when a vehicle they were traveling in struck a landmine between the towns of Ceel Gub and Adale, local officials have confirmed.
Saadaq Mukhtaar, a member of the Hirshabelle regional parliament, told Somali National Television that the al-Shabaab militant group was behind the deadly explosion.
“Five people were killed and more than a dozen injured. Some sustained minor injuries, while four others were seriously wounded,” said MP Saadaq. He added that efforts were being made to airlift the critically wounded to Mogadishu for advanced medical care.
The explosion occurred at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, just days after Somali government forces recaptured Ceel Gub from al-Shabaab militants following intense clashes.
Though no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, al-Shabaab is widely believed to be behind it. The group frequently employs roadside bombs and landmines to target both military personnel and civilians.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organization, is designated as such by the Somali government, the United States, the United Nations, and numerous other international bodies. The group has waged a prolonged insurgency in Somalia, often targeting populated areas with indiscriminate attacks.
