At least 10 dead in Friday’s bus explosion

GOOBJOOG NEWS/KISMAYO: At least 10 people were killed Friday morning after the minibus they were traveling in struck a landmine near Abdi-Dhore, about 18 kilometers from the coastal city of Kismayo.

Witnesses at the scene said that the minibus was extensively damaged and the bodies of the victims were burned beyond recognition.

While briefing AFP on the incident, a local security official known as Mohamed Nur Dahir said the victims were heading to the southern port city of Kismayo when an explosion ripped through their vehicle as it hit what was believed to be a landmine.

“This was a horrible incident, ten people – all of them innocent civilians – were killed and two others wounded in the explosion which destroyed the minibus they were traveling in,” he said.

According to one of the locals at the scene, some of the victims were camel milk sellers from villages near Kismayo city.

Fingers have been pointed at the Al-Shabaab terror network, which is widely known for staging such attacks on civilians and the military.