Toll in Mogadishu blasts rises to 32

The death toll in Friday's twin bomb attacks in Somali capital Mogadishu has gone up to 32, officials said.

A police officer, on the condition of anonymity, told Xinhua news agency on Saturday that the death toll had risen as several beach-goers succumbed to their injuries in various hospitals in the city.

"I can say so far we know 32 people have died," the police officer said. "The casualties increased since most of those injured, mainly young people who were from the Lido beach, died of injuries."

Al-Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for the double car bombing attacks, one targeting the presidential palace and the other went off near the intelligence headquarters.

Somali security forces killed all five militants at the entrance of Villa Somalia, the presidential palace. One presidential guard was killed.

The militants were dressed in police uniform and drove vehicles painted in police colours, evading several checkpoints before arriving at their targets.

Mogadishu Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman said on Saturday that most of those killed were teenagers going home from Lido beach, which is near the intelligence headquarters.

--IANS

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