A group linked to Al Qaeda launched two large blasts at a restaurant in Somalia, killing 15 people and injuring dozens on Saturday, ABC News reported.
The African Union military force said the attack happened at The Village eatery when one car bomb exploded and a suicide bomber, dressed as a first responder, detonated his device.
Powerful blasts ripped through the restaurant, specifically tearing apart the roof -- a place where many government employees visit.
Senior police official Capt. Ali Hussein said 15 people were killed and at least 20 were injured.
A reporter from The Associated Press said the scene was filled with people screaming in agony as they were taken away by ambulance, passing badly burned dead bodies. To restore order amid the chaos, soldiers reportedly fired shots into the air.
"This disaster never comes to an end," cried Isaq Hassan, a car washer who lost a co-worker in the blasts. "See this, that and this! Life is worthless here," he said as he pointed to bodies on the ground.
Nicholas Kay, the U.N. representative for Somalia, condemned the terrorism that continues to plague the country, saying "cruel and cowardly acts of terrorism serve to remind us that the people of Somalia desperately need peace."
"Terrorism is a threat to Somalis, the people of the region and the world. It needs to be defeated militarily and politically," Kay added.
Last November, the same restaurant was attacked by militants -- most likely from the group al-Shabab. Two suicide bombers entered the restaurant but made less of an effect, only killing one guard. According to reports, guards opened first at the militants during the first attack which may have kept the death toll down.
Al-Shabab has a reputation for trying to kill government leaders and employees.
"They attack the restaurants because they hate to see people peacefully spending time together," said Mohamed Abdi, an Interior Ministry employee. "They are committed to obliterating any sign of peace. Because of such attacks, it's very hard for the government to restore security in the near future."
