1st LD: At least nine killed in U.N. bus bomb attack in Somalia

At least nine people were killed and seven others were injured in a bomb attack on a vehicle carrying workers to the United Nations compound in Garowe town in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in Somalia, police authorities said Monday.

Police at the scene told news media that the nine included two Kenyans and seven Somali guards. Sources told the media that the bomb might have been implanted under a seat of the vehicle and it exploded as the vehicle entered the U.N. premises.

The Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General for Somalia Nicholas Kay condemned in his twitter feed the attack on the U.N. vehicle.

"I condemn the attack this morning on U.N. in Garowe. Shocked and appalled by loss of life," said Kay.

Nor Ali, an eye witness in the region, said there was a huge explosion which destroyed the bus and a number of occupants were killed.

"The vehicle suddenly exploded as it passed by and some parts of the vehicle were thrown off the distance. I ran away since I was at risk," said Ali.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, but the militant group Al-Shabaab carried out similar attacks in the past, including the killing of a parliament member from Puntland several days ago. Endi