BULOBURDE (KAAB TV) – At least three civilians were killed and 13 others injured after a teashop in Buloburde town was blown up by an improvised explosive device on Saturday, local officials said.
Locals, members of the Buloburde security forces, and Ma’awisley clan militia would congregate in the busy city center teashop where it was blown up.
Authorities believe that Al-Shabaab members planted the IED at the busy teashop.
“The terrorist group attacked innocent people at a teashop in the Hantiwadaag neighborhood of Buloburde today. Three people died, and 13 were injured. The security forces conducted a search after the bomb attack,” said Omar Nur, a member of the local security forces.
A health official who does not want to be named said five victims in very critical condition were airlifted to Mogadishu for treatment since the local medical center cannot treat severe cases.
Al-Shabaab bomb attacks in Buloburde have targeted the town, about 219 kilometers from Mogadishu, many times, leading to multiple civilian casualties.
Nearly 10 locals died last September after a car packed with explosives went off in the busy market, with many women and children among the victims.
The group has also targeted the local bridge that connects key parts of the city.
However, despite the Djiboutian forces from the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) that have been deployed in this town since 2014, Al-Shabaab still continues to besiege Buloburde.
This blockage prevents essentials from being supplied, so air transport is the only effective way in or out of the town.