• 3 comments
• Print
• Email
• Tweet
• Reset

A young female suicide bomber blew herself up on Wednesday (April 4th) in Mogadishu at an event in the National Theatre attended by Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and other ministers.

At least six people were killed and 10 were injured when the young woman detonated an explosives belt, an AMISOM official said.

According to AFP, victims included Somali Olympic Committee president Aden Yabarow Wiish and Somali Football Federation chief Said Mohamed Nur.

Al-Shabaab quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. The bomber was described as being less than 16 years old and was initially refused admission to the theatre, the Somali defence minister told Britain's The Daily Telegraph.

Journalists and officials are also reportedly among the dead, Somalia's Kulmiye Radio reported. The prime minister and seven ministers standing beside him were unharmed, according to AFP.

Officials had gathered at the theatre to celebrate the first anniversary of the government's satellite television station. The national theatre re-opened last month after being closed for more than 20 years.

Mogadishu has been plagued by suicide and grenade attacks since the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab movement abandoned fixed bases in the capital last August and reverted to guerrilla tactics.

A suicide bomber last month killed at least five people in an attack at the presidential palace, which the al-Shabaab militia also claimed.