An accidental explosion in Shanta Geed village of Hawl Wadaag district of Mogadishu killed at least two men who were reportedly al-Shabaab insurgents as they were assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inside a house in the village around 5:30pm local time on Wednesday, according to local officials who spoke to Somalia Report.
Two others, including a man and a woman passing nearby the home at the time of the blast, were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
“The explosion was a huge one. It almost left everyone dead. It was around 5:30pm when we heard the explosion from a house located at Shanta Geed village. We suddenly reached the place and it was a grotesque scene and the building was destroyed. We found two wounded persons, a man and a woman, near the house," Ina Abdow, a resident at Shanta Geed village, told Somalia Report.
Many local residents gathered in the area where the explosion occurred as the TFG security forces reached the scene and entered the home.
The district commissioner of Hawl Wadaag district, Mr. Mohamed Ali Abukar, was among those who reached scence this afternoon.
“The explosion occurred and the mission behind it was to cause harm and disrupt the peace of Hawl Wadaag district. The anti-peace militiamen lost their lives in their terror operation. They wanted to kill innocent people," said Mr. Mohamed Ali Abukar.
The district commissioner added that they will double their security operations in the district and he urged the people to remain calm and let the police force investigate the matter. He also asked the people to assist the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces to maintain peace and order in the district.
The commissioner added that these men were members of the al-Shabaab militia but al-Shabaab has not commented on the incident.
Last month, a female bomber and her instructor were killed when she accidentally detonated a bomb she was assembling in Galgadud region.
This explosion comes only after three nights after a TFG sponsored party was held at Hawl Wadaag district of Mogadishu called, “The interaction of the people for peace” which showcased the security improvements in the capital.