Four injured in mortar attack on Kismayo

At least 4 civilians were seriously wounded in mortar attacks in Kismayo town in southern  in the Lower Jubba region, local Somali government officials and witnesses said Wednesday.

Heavy explosions could be heard overnight by residents in the town, with official sources there confirming the attack.

Abdi Moalim Hussein, who lives nearby, said some of the shells smashed into houses. “I saw four wounded civilians, some of them seriously,” he said.

Bashir Hussein, who lives in Via-Afmadow, confirmed there were several loud explosions.

“There was a mortar attack, several shells landed in our neighbour last night,” said Bashir Hussein, who lives in Via-Afmadow.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have carried out a string of similar bombings in the past.

The city has been under Al shabaab control for almost 7 years before Somali and Kenyan troops pushed the militants of the strategic town in Lower Jubba region following joint offensive.