A truck bomb exploded outside the Safari Hotel, near Somalia’s Foreign Ministry, and lined with government offices, hotels, restaurants and shops. The blast injured over 200 people and death toll is feared to continue to rise.
The second explosion took place in the city’s Madina district two hours later, according to police.
Following the attack, Somali President Mohamed Farmaajo declared a three-day national mourning beginning on Sunday.
None of the local terror groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, similar assaults in the country have been blamed on fighters from Al-Shabaab who have launched regular attacks on the city since 2011.
MS