...... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...boom-mobile struck a hotel in Jowhar city, Middle Shabelle regional capital on Sunday morning, killing several people and wounding others.
The blast caused by a truck loaded with explosives targeted Nur Dob hotel in the town which is frequented by HirShabelle state ministers and politicians, according to police.
Those injured include the health and women ministers of Hirshabelle state, according to an official who spoke to Garowe Online over the phone from the city which lies 90 kilometers north of the Somali capital Mogadishu.
Somali PM Hamza Abdi Barre has condemned the attack and sent condolences to HirShabelle state and its people. The attack comes as seven million Somalis affected by the ongoing driught.
Al-Shabaab has grabbed credit for the attack. The al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 but still manages to carry out deadly boom-mobiles and gun attacks.