Deadly bombing outside café in Mogadishu kills at least five people

A bombing outside a café in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, has resulted in the deaths of at least five people, according to police reports. The incident occurred on Sunday while individuals were watching the European soccer final between Spain and England inside the café. A car loaded with explosives detonated outside, causing injuries to at least 20 other individuals. Witness accounts described a chaotic scene with some spectators getting injured while trying to escape and others hurt in a stampede. Most of the victims were on the street at the time of the explosion. The responsible party behind the attack remains unclear, although the Islamic militant group al-Shabab, known for opposing Somalia's federal government, is often linked to such incidents in Mogadishu and other parts of the country. Despite a period of relative peace in Mogadishu, recent events have disrupted this calm. A jailbreak attempt by inmates in a Mogadishu prison resulted in at least eight deaths as prisoners involved in al-Shabab attacks engaged in a deadly confrontation with prison guards. The Somali government has been actively pursuing a campaign against al-Shabab, which the U.S. has identified as a significant threat linked to al-Qaida. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has declared a "total war" against the extremist group, which controls substantial territories in central and southern Somalia. The government's efforts have been supported by numerous U.S. airstrikes targeting al-Shabab operatives in recent years as part of the ongoing counterterrorism strategy in the region. The situation remains tense as authorities work to address the security challenges posed by such violent incidents.