By Mohammed Dhaysane

GAROWE, Somalia (AA): At least seven people in Somalia were killed and several others wounded as a suicide attack targeted a busy restaurant in the country’s capital on Friday evening, a police official said.

Al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab terrorist group has claimed responsibility, according to AP.

The attack took place near Mogadishu airport at a popular restaurant frequently visited by government and security officials.

The attack occurred just hours after acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller visited Mogadishu to meet the U.S. ambassador and military personnel.

In a brief statement, the Pentagon said Christopher Miller, who was installed as acting defence secretary Nov. 9 when President Donald Trump fired Mark Esper, met Friday with U.S. troops in Mogadishu, the capital, to express appreciation for their work and to reiterate the U.S. commitment to combating extremist groups.

Trump is expected to order a withdrawal of most or all of the 700 U.S. troops based in Somalia before he leaves office Jan. 20.

Abdifatah Hassan, a police officer in Mogadishu, told Anadolu Agency that the attack killed at least seven people.

According to medical sources, at least 10 people were also wounded in the attack and were rushed to hospitals for treatment.

Ismail Mukhtar Oronjo, a Somali government spokesman, told Anadolu Agency that it was a suicide attack and the bomber blew himself up inside the restaurant.

Security officials rushed to the scene and put the security cordon.

Additional report by The Muslim News

[Photo: Earlier, a suicide bomber targeted a busy restaurant outside Somali police headquarters killing five people, wounding more than 5 others in Mogadishu, Somalia on November 17, 2020. Photographer: Sadak Mohamed/AA]