MOGADISHU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- At least five football fans were killed and more than ten others were injured on Thursday evening when a bomb exploded during a local football match in the Somali coastal town of Barawe.
Local administration officials confirmed on Friday that some of the players were among the injured during the incident at the Tabuuk Stadium.
Bashir Mohamed Yusuf, Barawe Town's deputy commissioner, told reporters that the explosion was caused by improvised explosive device planted in the football pitch.
"We can confirm that five people were killed and more than 10 others were injured by the explosion which targeted footballers and fans at the stadium," Yusuf said.
Militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility by its radio, saying its fighters killed four foreign troops and government soldiers in the blast that disrupted a match between two district level teams.
The insurgents claimed to have warned residents of Barawe that is located about 200 km southwest of Mogadishu not to play football with African Union troops.
