Two blasts in the Somali town of Baidoa on Saturday killed at least 15 people and injured more than 30 others.

The South West State information minister, Ugas Hassan Abdi, said, "The attacks were carried out by two suicide bombers wearing explosive belts." He said officials were still assessing the casualty figures.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group, which controlled Baidoa between 2009 and 2012 before being driven out by Ethiopian-backed government forces, claimed responsibility for the attacks.

A survivor told VOA's Somali service that a suicide bomber threw a grenade at a busy restaurant, killing at least five people and injuring several others.

"A young man rushed to us and hurled a grenade at a crowded restaurant. He was shot before he detonated a suicide belt he was wearing," said Aden Nur.

Minutes after the first attack, another suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into the Bilan Hotel nearby.

The assaults came as the city prepares for next month's election of the head of the country's South West State. The former No. 2 leader of al-Shabab is among the candidates. The Somali government said it would block him from running for the post because he was still under U.N. sanctions.

Baidoa is about 240 kilometers (150 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, where residents remember last year's attack that killed hundreds of people.

Memorial monument

On Oct. 14, 2017, a truck loaded with explosives barreled down a busy street in Mogadishu. The explosives were detonated, killing nearly 600 people and injuring hundreds. It was the deadliest terror attack in Africa's history.

A monument honoring the victims was lit up in red on Friday in preparation for a ceremony on Sunday. In a cabinet meeting, the Somali government said security would be tightened in the area to allow residents to commemorate their fallen family members and friends.

The shock of the Oct. 14 attack still troubles the city's residents, Somalis across the country, and the country's diaspora communities around the world.

Abdullahi Ali Mohamed and his wife had two small kiosks at the blast site. He was among the many unconscious and critically wounded survivors taken to Turkey for treatment. He lost his wife that day in the blast but did not find out until a month later.

"I regained consciousness in a Turkish hospital a month later. That was when I was told that my wife died in the blast. She was vending at one corner of the junction the last time I saw her," said Mohamed.

Five months after his recovery, he went back to Mogadishu. He said he tried to stay away from the site for the first few days to avoid painful memories, but he had to return to establish his kiosk business.

"When I came back, I had to pay my rents, bills and debt that piled up during the months I had been away. I had to pay for the milk for my two kids and I could not get an alternative job or source of income. Therefore, I came back to the same site where I lost my wife and had a dreadful and shocking life experience," he said. "One must never despair of life."

Critically wounded people wait to be moved into a FILE - People critically wounded in an Oct. 14 truck bombing wait to be moved into a plane to be airlifted for treatment in Turkey, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Oct, 16, 2017. FILE - People critically wounded in an Oct. 14 truck bombing wait to be moved into a plane to be airlifted for treatment in Turkey, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Oct, 16, 2017.

?A 'dark day' of painful loss

Abdi Hassan Ali, one of the business owners at the blast site, left his business hours before the blast. He lost his older sister, Faisa, who replaced him for the shift.

"It was a dark day, a day that will remain fresh in my memory. The day I lost my older sister, who was my tower of strength," he said. "The fact that I did not find the remains of my sister and that I rebuilt my business location keeps troubling me."

Blast survivor Issa Ali Duhulow is still running his business at the site. He said, "I am survivor. Allah saved me from the blast. I got shrapnel injuries, but I've recovered from them and I'm back to business. Life goes on."

Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, who was in charge of the National Intelligence and Security Agency at the time of the attack, told VOA Somali, "It was a very painful moment in my life, and still a never-vanishing scar is somewhere in my brain. The pictures, the human remains, the blood and extent of the devastation we saw as first responders were extremely horrific."

Mogadishu's mayor at the time, Taabit Abdi Mohamed, still wears a red arm band to mourn the victims. He says he will keep it on until Sunday's memorial activities end.

"The painful and the ugly terror attack did not only hurt Somalis but also touched the hearts of all human beings in the world," he told VOA.</s>Those with serious injuries would be transferred to Mogadishu for further treatment

The death toll had risen to 22 and more than 30 others are injured after Saturday's twin suicide bomb attacks in Somalia's Baidoa town, officials said on Sunday.

Those with serious injuries would be transferred to Mogadishu for further treatment, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ugaas Hassan Abdi, the Information Minister for Southwest State in Somalia, told Xinhua over telephone that two young al-Shabab militants wearing vests carried out the attacks at two main social gatherings in the centre of the town.

"The terrorists targeted innocent civilians, children, youth, community leaders and soldiers at bars near a police station and Bilan hotel in the centre of town. The death toll could rise again," said Abdi.

The police said a man wearing an explosive device walked into Beder restaurant and blew himself up, killing several people and injuring others in Baidoa, which is considered as the hub of economic activities.

According to the police, another suicide bomber blew himself up at the Bilan hotel, killing more than six people.

The Al Qaeda allied terrorist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying its fighters killed more than 20 people.

The insurgents have stepped up their assault against the government and African Union Mission in Somalia bases across south and central parts of the Horn of Africa nation.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Except for the change in the headline, the story has been provided "AS-IS," "AS AVAILABLE, without any verification or editing from our side. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.</s>Powerful double suicide explosions rocked southwestern Somalia on Saturday, killing 14 people and injuring 20 others Two unidentified men wearing suicide west separately targeted Bilan hotel and Badri restaurant in Baidoa city in southwestern Bay region, Abdi Mohamed Ali, a police captain told Anadolu News Agency. He added that the most of the casualties were civilians Bay’s information minister Ugas Hassan Ibrahim said that the injured were rushed to the Baidoa Regional Hospital for treatment The militant group, al-Shabaab, claimed responsibility for the attack, through Andalus Radio, its media channel.

The group frequently carries out suicide attacks in Somalia and parts of East Africa Somalia has been plagued with insecurity, violence and political chaos in the last three decades. Infighting between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia, assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops, and various militant Islamist groups and factions, have claimed thousands of lives.</s>A suicide bomber detonated in the middle of a restaurant in the Somali town of Baidoa, leaving at least seven people dead, police said Saturday.

At least nine people were wounded in a second blast when a grenade struck a Baidoa hotel, Col. Ahmed Muse told The Associated Press.

Baidoa is a key economic center about 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of the capital, Mogadishu, and about the same distance east of the Ethiopian border.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group, which controlled Baidoa between 2009 and 2012 before being driven out by Ethiopian-backed government forces, still holds parts of southern and central Somalia.

The blasts came a day before Somalia marks the first anniversary of the deadliest attack in its history, a truck bombing that killed more than 500 people in Mogadishu.

Attention in recent days has turned to Baidoa, the interim capital of South West state, as high-level al-Shabab defector Mukhtar Robow seeks the regional presidency.

Robow is the highest-ranking official to have ever quit al-Shabab, surrendering to the Somali government last year after the United States cancelled a $5 million reward offered for his capture.

Somalia’s government earlier this month said Robow was not eligible to run for the regional post because he is still under U.S. sanctions that were imposed against him in 2008 when he was identified as a “specially designated global terrorist.”

Robow is among several candidates challenging former Somali parliament speaker and incumbent regional president Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. The election is Nov. 17.</s>At Least 16 People Killed In Suicide Attacks In Somalia

Two assassination blasts in Somali city Baidoa almost at the same time. 50 people are gravely injured.

In a double suicide attack on a popular restaurant and hotel, at least 16 people have been killed in the Somali city of Baidoa. Around 50 others were gravely injured, a police officer said on Saturday.

The assassins, who slammed almost at the same time, wore explosives vests. The Islamist terrorist organization Al-Shabaab accepted the responsibility of the committed blasts in a radio message of the attacks in Baidoa. The place is located about 200 kilometers west of the capital Mogadishu.</s>First, a hand grenade was thrown at Bilan hotel, often visited by lawmakers and politicians, according to police sources as cited by the Garowe Online news website.

Soon after that, a suicide attacker caused another blast in a restaurant near the hotel, which resulted in high casualties, according to officials.

Al-Shabaab militants, who have sworn allegiance to the al-Qaeda terror group, claimed responsibility for the attack. Somalia has been engulfed in violence since the eruption of a civil war between clan-based armed factions in the early 1990s. Al-Shabaab is staging numerous attacks across the country in an attempt to impose a radical version of Sharia law.</s>A suicide bomber detonated in a restaurant in the Somali town of Baidoa and another blast struck a hotel nearby, leaving at least 16 people dead and more than 30 wounded, authorities said Saturday.

Most of the casualties were caused by the bomber who walked into the restaurant with explosives strapped around his waist, Col. Ahmed Muse told The Associated Press.

Many of the wounded at Baidoa's main hospital had horrific injuries, nurse Mohamed Isaq told the AP.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility for the blasts via its radio arm, Andalus. It said one blast targeted a hotel owned by a former Somali minister, Mohamed Aden Fargeti, one of several candidates running for the presidency of the region in November's election.

Baidoa is a key economic center about 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of the capital, Mogadishu, and about the same distance east of the Ethiopian border. Al-Shabab, which controlled Baidoa between 2009 and 2012 before being driven out by Ethiopian-backed government forces, still holds parts of southern and central Somalia.

The blasts came a day before Somalia marks the first anniversary of the deadliest attack in its history, a truck bombing that killed more than 500 people in Mogadishu.

Attention in recent days has turned to Baidoa, the interim capital of South West state, as high-level al-Shabab defector Mukhtar Robow also seeks the regional presidency.

Robow is the highest-ranking official to have ever quit al-Shabab, surrendering to the Somali government last year after the United States cancelled a $5 million reward offered for his capture.

Somalia's government earlier this month said Robow was not eligible to run for the regional post because he is still under U.S. sanctions that were imposed against him in 2008 when he was identified as a "specially designated global terrorist."

Robow, who has yet to respond to the government's statement, has continued his campaign and remains registered on the list of candidates.

He is among several people challenging former Somali parliament speaker and incumbent regional president Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. Among the candidates is Somalia's former intelligence chief Hussein Osman, who has just resigned.

© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A suicide bomber detonated in the middle of a restaurant in the Somali town of Baidoa and a grenade struck a hotel nearby, leaving at least 11 people dead and more than 10 wounded, authorities said Saturday.

The death toll may rise, Col. Ahmed Muse told The Associated Press. Most of the casualties were caused by the bomber who walked into the restaurant with explosives strapped around his waist, officials said.

At least 10 of the wounded were being treated at Baidoa’s main hospital. Most had horrific injuries, nurse Mohamed Isaq told the AP.

Baidoa is a key economic center about 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of the capital, Mogadishu, and about the same distance east of the Ethiopian border.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group, which controlled Baidoa between 2009 and 2012 before being driven out by Ethiopian-backed government forces, still holds parts of southern and central Somalia.

The blasts came a day before Somalia marks the first anniversary of the deadliest attack in its history, a truck bombing that killed more than 500 people in Mogadishu.

Attention in recent days has turned to Baidoa, the interim capital of South West state, as high-level al-Shabab defector Mukhtar Robow seeks the regional presidency.

Robow is the highest-ranking official to have ever quit al-Shabab, surrendering to the Somali government last year after the United States cancelled a $5 million reward offered for his capture.

Somalia’s government earlier this month said Robow was not eligible to run for the regional post because he is still under U.S. sanctions that were imposed against him in 2008 when he was identified as a “specially designated global terrorist.”

Robow, who has yet to respond to the government’s statement, has continued his campaign and remains registered on the list of candidates.

He is among several people challenging former Somali parliament speaker and incumbent regional president Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. Among the candidates is Somalia’s former intelligence chief Hussein Osman, who has just resigned. The election is Nov. 17.</s>Suicide bombers targeted a restaurant and a coffee shop in southwest Somalia Saturday, killing at least seven people, police said.

"The first blast was targeting a restaurant near the main city roundabout where the information we are getting indicates a suicide bomber detonated himself, seven people were killed and more than ten others wounded," said Muktar Adan, a police official in the provincial capital of Baidoa where the blasts took place.

"The second blast presumably carried out by another suicide bomber wearing explosives targeted a coffee shop along densely populated street, we don't have the casualty numbers, but we assume several were killed in the second blast as well," he said by phone.

The death toll may rise, Col. Ahmed Muse told The Associated Press. Most of the casualties were caused by the bomber who walked into the restaurant with explosives strapped around his waist, officials said.

At least 10 of the wounded were being treated at Baidoa's main hospital. Most had horrific injuries, nurse Mohamed Isaq told the AP.

Baidoa is a key economic center about 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of the capital, Mogadishu, and about the same distance east of the Ethiopian border.

Witnesses said blasts occurred within a few minutes from each other.

"It looks that these attacks were organized in a way to inflict many civilian casualties because of the targets the bombers have selected," said witness Abdifatah Mohamed

"I saw eight dead bodies of civilians being carried from the scene of the first blast and there are several ambulances collecting dead and wounded victims from the scene of the second blast, we don't have the exact number of the casualty so far," said another witness Adaf Sheik.

The blasts came a day before the first anniversary of a truck bombing that left more than 500 dead in Mogadishu, the worst ever attack in Somalia which was blamed on terror group Al-Shabaab.

Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed Somali government in Mogadishu.

The Shabaab were forced out of the capital by African Union troops in 2011 but still control parts of the countryside and carry out attacks against government, military and civilian targets seemingly at will in Mogadishu and regional towns.</s>At least seven people have been killed in southwest Somalia, after suicide bombers targeted a restaurant and coffee shop, police said Saturday.

"The first blast was targeting a restaurant near the main city roundabout where the information we are getting indicates a suicide bomber detonated himself, seven people were killed and more than ten others wounded," said Muktar Adan, a police official in the provincial capital of Baidoa where the blasts took place.

"The second blast presumably carried out by another suicide bomber wearing explosives targeted a coffee shop along densely populated street, we don't have the casualty numbers, but we assume several were killed in the second blast as well," he said by phone.

Witnesses said blasts occurred within a few minutes from each other.

"It looks that these attacks were organised in a way to inflict many civilian casualties because of the targets the bombers have selected," said witness Abdifatah Mohamed

"I saw eight dead bodies of civilians being carried from the scene of the first blast and there are several ambulances collecting dead and wounded victims from the scene of the second blast, we don't have the exact number of the casualty so far," said another witness Adaf Sheik.

The blasts came a day before the first anniversary of a truck bombing that left more than 500 dead in Mogadishu, the worst ever attack in Somalia which was blamed on Islamist group Al-Shabaab.

Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed Somali government in Mogadishu.

The Shabaab were forced out of the capital by African Union troops in 2011 but still control parts of the countryside and carry out attacks against government, military and civilian targets seemingly at will in Mogadishu and regional towns.
Two blasts in the town of Baidoa in Somalia kill at least 15 people and injure more than 30 others.