On Saturday, October 28th 2017, a double car bomb attack outside the Nasa Hablod Two Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, killed at least 27.
Earlier reports, released on the day, gave a death toll of 23. Whilst over 40 were said to be injured by the blasts.
It is unclear how many were killed in the initial bomb blasts or from the following gun attack on the hotel.
The attack follows the largest bombing of its kind in Somalia since the insurgency began, that occurred two weeks ago, on October 14th, and killed over 300.
Saturday’s attack, like the one on October 14th, was claimed by Al Shabaab.
Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) recorded a 132% increase in civilian deaths and injuries from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Somalia in 2016, compared to 2015. Almost 70% of these attacks took place in the capital, Mogadishu.
Such rising IED violence continues. In the first half of 2017, Somalia saw an 18% increase in civilian casualties from IEDs, compared to 2016 – a 38% increase in civilian deaths.
In the last six years, when IED attacks have been claimed, Al Shabaab has stated responsibility for 100% of the incidents.
AOAV condemns the use of violence against civilians and calls upon all groups to reject the deliberate targeting of civilians. States must urgently address the threat of IEDs. The international community should, more than ever, seek to address IED use and seek to implement effective preventative measures to decrease their harm.
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