(Image Source: Al Jazeera)

BY ADAM FALK

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

You're watching multisource world news analysis from Newsy.

An attack in the Somali capitol of Mogadishu leaves at least 70 dead and dozens injured.
Fox News reports.

“This is Somalia. Truck bomb blast tearing though a crowded security checkpoint. Al Shabab immediately claiming responsibility. ... Now, most of the casualties of today’s attack were students and parents in Somalia waiting to hear waiting to hear whether or not they’d be receiving college scholarships.”  

This is the deadliest attack by Al Shabab inside of Somalia. The group has ties to Al Qaeda, and has described the truck bombing as a “martyrdom operation.”  CNN reports suicide bombings are a new threat for Somalia.

“Suicide attacks were unheard of in Somalia before 2007, but security analysts believe the attacks emerged because of the influence of foreign fighters.”

The New York Times reports, those foreign fighters seem to have had a unifying influence on the terrorist group.

“Though many analysts have said that the Shabab is a spent force, racked by internal divisions and dwindling resources, they seem to be regrouping.”

The Somali government has condemned the attacks and reports no senior officials were hurt. But Bloomberg notes the strategic nature of the attack.

“At the scene of the incident, an exploded container truck was parked outside the front gate of the building, which is opposite the Criminal Investigation Department. The building is situated on one the busiest roads in Mogadishu that links the international airport to the presidential palace.”

BBC reports the attack could have a negative ripple effect on Somalia, which has been the hardest hit by Africa’s hunger crisis.

“The latest attack will not only worry the government, but also the aid agencies, who have been taking great risks to get food to the drought victims.”

Transcript by Newsy.