At least three civilians were injured Saturday morning when several mortar shells struck residential and public areas in Mogadishu, including the National Theater and busy public squares, according to security officials and eyewitnesses.
Four mortar rounds hit different locations across the Boondheere and Warta Nabadda districts, damaging property and injuring people in areas where civilians were conducting daily business. One shell landed inside the compound of the National Theater, injuring a staff member identified as Gurey. Two other people were wounded when another round struck a busy square in Warta Nabadda. A fourth shell hit a family residence in Boondheere, though no additional injuries were reported.
Security forces cordoned off the affected areas and launched an investigation to determine the origin of the attack. Authorities have not released an official casualty report or identified those responsible.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Al-Shabaab militants have previously used indirect fire to target government-controlled areas in the capital, often firing mortar rounds from positions outside the city.
The assault comes as Mogadishu continues to face sporadic violence despite ongoing military operations by the Somali National Army and its international partners aimed at weakening the al-Qaida-linked group’s influence in central and southern Somalia.
