Credited from: REUTERS
On May 18, a suicide bomber targeted a queue of young recruits at the Damanyo military base in Mogadishu, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals, according to witnesses and medical staff. Eyewitness accounts depicted a chaotic scene, where the attacker detonated explosives amid teenagers lined up at the base's gate. A military captain named Suleiman detailed the event, stating, "I saw 10 people dead, including recruits and passers-by" as the tragic scene unfolded, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.
The blast killed at least 10 people, with medical personnel noting that they treated 30 others injured in the explosion, six of whom died shortly after arrival at the military hospital. Witnesses described how the area was shrouded in smoke following the blast, making it difficult to ascertain the extent of the casualties, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
This attack follows the recent assassination of Colonel Abdirahmaan Hujaale, a significant military figure in the Hiiran region, amidst ongoing concerns regarding al-Shabaab militants infiltrating government forces. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing, heightening fears of possible further violence, as noted by Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.