Death Toll In Somali Islamic Extremist Attack At Least 14, Police Say

somalia — A car suspected by the Somali police to have been used in a bomb attack is seen as residents gather to view the damage at the scene of the attack near Somali Youth League Hotel, known as SYL hotel, in Hamarweyne district in Mogadishu, Feb. 27, 2016. Feisal Omar/Reuters

An attack Friday by a Somali Islamic extremist group next to a busy park and a hotel in the capital killed at least 14, while 30 others were injured, police said Saturday.

Al-Shabab militants, who want to topple the Western-backed government, claimed responsibility for the attack. The government said a truck bomb was detonated near the entrance to the park, near the Somali Youth League Hotel, known as SYL Hotel, in the seaside capital.

An al-Shabab spokesman said in a statement to Reuters the death toll was 20 soldiers, while two members of the group died. The group often gives a higher death toll for the attacks it carries out than the official numbers.

Police Major Ahmed Abdullahi told Reuters the latest attack killed five members of the security forces and nine civilians while 30 others were injured. On Friday, another police officer said three militants also were killed.

“It was a truck bomb carrying 200 kg of explosives,” Somali Security Minister Abdirizak Omar told state radio.

Somalia