At least six people were killed when a suicide bomber self-detonated outside Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon's office in Mogadishu on Tuesday (January 29th), AFP reported.
"I saw the dead bodies of six people and several others were injured," Somali military official Abdukadir Ali said. "The bomber was sitting near a perimeter wall and detonated himself in the midst of a group of security forces. There was chaos, smoke and pieces of human flesh."
Shirdon was in his office during the blast, but he was not harmed.
Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia Mohamat Annadif condemned the terrorist attack, saying it came at a time when Mogadishu has been enjoying its longest period of relative peace in more than two decades.
Italian Ambassador to Somalia Andrea Mazzella also condemned the attack.
"We want to assure our deepest solidarity and closeness to the families of the victims of this shameful attack, and to all the people of Somalia, in this very critical and important turning point in the Somali history," Mazzella said, according to Somalia's Horseed Media.
Mazzella and Shirdon met in Mogadishu on Monday to discus improving bilateral relations between their countries and Italy's role in stabilising Somalia.
"Italy is ready to help Somalia in the areas of security, justice, social services and human rights," Mazzella said, according to Somalia's Garowe Online.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but al-Shabaab militants have carried out similar guerrilla-style attacks in the capital before. The al-Qaeda affiliated group has vowed to topple the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected in September.
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