Al-Shabab bomb blast in Somalian capital kills 15 people

Capt. Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press that the blast occurred as the restaurant in Mogadishu's Waberi district was crowded with diners. (Photo | AP)

The Al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack. The group often targets high-profile areas in Mogadishu with suicide bombings. Those often include security checkpoints, hotels and government offices. (Photo | AP)

Vehicles were tossed into the air by the force of the explosion, which also damaged surrounding buildings. Witnesses said several cars and three-wheel motorbikes were destroyed. (Photo | AP)

The bombing is the latest in a recent string of blasts in Mogadishu, which has been hit frequently by Al-Shabaab attacks. On Saturday, Shabaab gunmen attacked a complex housing government ministries in Mogadishu, killing 11 people including the deputy labour minister. (Photo | AP)

Since then at least four people have been killed this week in three blasts, including car bombs and roadside explosions. Shabaab fighters have been fighting for more than a decade to topple the government. They fled fixed positions they once held in Mogadishu in 2011, and have since lost many of their strongholds. (Photo | AP)

The United States military has dramatically increased the number of deadly airstrikes against al-Shabab since President Donald Trump took office. The US is one of a number of actors fighting al-Shabab, including a multinational African Union force, Somali forces and Kenyan troops. (Photo | AP)