At least 35 people have been killed and dozens of others wounded in a triple suicide bomb attack claimed by Al-Shabaab in the Hiiraan region of central Somalia.
The attacks took place in Buluburte and Jalalaqsi districts on Saturday. Both towns were previously targeted by Al-Shabaab bombers.
At least 18 people were killed in Bulobarde town when a suicide bomber driving a vehicle laden with explosives detonated explosives near a police station and the base of the African Union peacekeepers from Djibouti.
Among were victims killed in the attack include 14 civilians. Bulobarde town lies some 220 kilometres north of Mogadishu.
In Jalalaqsi town which lies about 50km away from Bulobarde, a powerful car bomb exploded near a Somali military checkpoint in Jalalaqsi town. The attack happened when soldiers operating the checkpoint attempted to intercept the explosives-laden vehicle.
Another one went off almost simultaneously nearby when security officials shot the driver of the vehicle.
According to witnesses, the checkpoint is near local government buildings and a military base belonging to African Union peacekeepers from Djibouti.
Jalalaqsi lies some 160 kilometres north of Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab claimed the responsibility of both attacks.
