AFP | June 21, 2011
At least six people were killed Tuesday when a minibus carrying civilians struck a roadside bomb in the Somali capital, witnesses said.
The device exploded as a convoy of Burundian troops belonging to the African Union force was going past, but it struck the minibus, leaving three civilians dead on the spot.
Three other people, who were wounded in the blast, died later from their injuries.
No one had claimed responsibility for the attack by late Tuesday afternoon.
“It was horrible, I have seen three people who were killed in the explosion, and nearly 20 others, all civilians, who were injured,” Mohamed Abdukarim, a witness said.
All the wounded were taken to Medina hospital, where an AFP journalist said three of them, including two university students, died from their injuries.
“The bus was full when the bomb hit it. A convoy of Burundians was going past but it was the bus that was destroyed,” Shamso Adan, another witness said.
“I have never seen such a disaster. I was slightly injured as I was very close to the scene. We have collected eighteen injured civilians after the explosion and at least six people are dead,” Nur Moalim Jis, another witness said.
The Somali capital has witnessed daily fighting pitting government forces and their Ugandan and Burundian allies from the African Union force AMISOM against radical Islamist rebels.
Civilians are the main victims, hit by mortar fire and stray bullets or killed in attacks targeting government troops and their backers.
