Somali Suicide Attack Targets UN, Govt. Officials

A suicide bomber targeted municipal government headquarters in Mogadishu, Somalia on Wednesday.

Six fatalities have been recorded, including district and local officials. Among the injured are the Mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman, who has reportedly been flown to Turkey for treatment along with several others.

Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack as part of its campaign to topple the country’s United Nations (UN) backed government. According to the group’s spokesperson the attack was directed at the new UN envoy to Somalia James Swan.

Mr Swan, who attended a meeting at the office earlier in the day, has condemned the attack stating, "[it] not only demonstrates a violent disregard for the sanctity of human life, but also targets Somalis working to improve the lives of their fellow Somalis"