At least 26 people have been killed by fresh fighting in Mogadishu, half of them when a mortar shell hit a mosque as worshippers left after evening prayers. According to AFP, Mogadishu’s top police commander and five children were among 13 people killed earlier.
Witness Dadir Ali Jes said after the explosion at the mosque “It was the most terrible incident I have ever witnessed, 13 people have died.” Government security officer Adan Weheliye described it as a “tragedy”.
The five children killed earlier were also killed by a single mortar shell. The death toll in Mogadishu has climbed well above the 250 mark in just over a month.