MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – The aftermath of Tuesday’s bombings in the Bakara market reveals a grim toll as the number of injured rises, shedding light on the extent of devastation caused by the attack.
According to data from two hospitals in the city, the death toll stands close to 30, with 41 individuals reported injured.
The Ministry of Health of the Federal Government of Somalia has provided insight, indicating 8 fatalities and 9 injuries at Madina Hospital alone, with additional casualties distributed across other medical facilities.
Primarily impacting business owners and workers in the market, the bombings occurred amid protests against increased taxes, with initial reports suggesting mortar fire and confirmed IED explosions targeting the electronics section of the market.
Abdirahman, a grieving business owner, shared his anguish, revealing the loss of two brothers and injuries to four relatives in the attack.
“That is what Allah had prescribed for us. The fate has befallen on our family,” he lamented.
Relatives of the injured describe dire conditions in Mogadishu’s hospitals, prompting urgent calls for blood donations.
Deputy Mayor Mohamed Ahmed Diriye attributed the attack to Al-Shabaab militants, condemning their targeting of innocent business people.
“What happened here was targeting the innocent business community,” he asserted.
With no group claiming responsibility, hospitals such as Madina and Kalkaal have appealed for blood donors, particularly for those from economically disadvantaged families unable to afford blood transfusions.
As Mogadishu grapples with the aftermath, the search for answers continues amidst the carnage that has struck the heart of the Somali capital’s biggest business hub.