![A wrecked vehicle part lies on the ground after Al-Shabaab militants set of bombs in Mogadishu, Somalia on 30 September 2019 [Sadak Mohamed/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/20190930_2_38487199_48045739.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
At least 61 Al-Shabab extremists were killed in a powerful explosion yesterday at a bomb-making facility in the south of Somalia, Voice of the Somali Republic radio has reported.
“A powerful explosion took place in the Al-Shabab-controlled town of Alfoto,” a senior security source told the radio station. “It was caused by a car bomb that was being prepared in a house used by Al-Shabaab to prepare explosives and booby-traps. The whole building was destroyed.”
According to reports, one of those killed was Ahmed Sharif (“Abu Bilal”), an Al-Shabab commander who holds Afghan nationality and supervises the preparation of car bombs. Yemeni national Khaled Kasi was also killed.
Somalia has been waging a war against Al-Shabaab extremists for years. The armed group was formed in early 2004 and is affiliated ideologically with Al-Qaeda. It has claimed responsibility for many terrorist attacks that have claimed the lives of hundreds of people.