At least two people, among them an elderly woman, were wounded when a series of grenade blasts ripped through a United Nations office in Mogadishu, Somali officials and eyewitnesses said on Sunday.
The militant group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility over the attacks. According to witnesses, unidentified gunmen lobbed five grenades on the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) offices in the bullet-ridden Somali capital late on Saturday.
The offices are located at Bulo Hubey village in Wadajir district within the Somali capital.
“We thank Allah who made it easier for our Mujahidin to attack with grenades the Christian agency called the UN and we swear that we will continue targeting their offices," said Sheikh Al Nucman Alhudeyami, an al-Shabaab official.
The UN agency has not commented about the incident.
But the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Deputy Chairman of Wadajir district Hussein Bootaan confirmed the attacks and accused the militant group al-Shabaab.
“There were no more casualties. We condemn the al-Shabaab for carrying out the attacks," he told Somalia Report, adding that security operations have since been beefed up to counter further attacks.
This is the latest in a string of blasts, including roadside bombs and grenade attacks, to hit the Somali capital in recent months.
“I was in the area when the explosions took place but I ran away. I saw a woman who was injured admitted at Madina Hospital. A young man was also injured when the security forces fired in response to the attacks,” Bile Abdi, a local resident in Wadajir told Somalia Report.
This will be the third grenade attack targeting the UNDP office in Mogadishu in less than 30 days. Two more attacks were reported earlier this month.
"There was a big explosion in the area. Then I heard several other explosions followed by gunfire," one of the witnesses told Somalia Report.
Earlier this month, unidentified gunmen attacked the main UN compound in the Somali capital.
The United Nations relocated its political office for Somalia to Mogadishu from Nairobi early this month after 17 years of its absence. The office is located in one of the most highly guarded streets in Mogadishu, connecting the presidential palace and main airport.
The militant group al-Shabaab has warned civilians against visiting the new offices.