Thousands of Somalians gathered to pray Friday night at the site of the country’s most deadliest attack. The death toll rose to 358 and a dozen of people are still missing. A double truck bombing hit Mogadishu, Somalia shattering the city.

Many rescuers combed through burned-out cars and hunted as best they could through a collapsed hotel in search of people. Emergency workers pulled body after body from the rubble of a downtown street. Senator Abshir  Ahmed reported in a Facebook video, “This is the deadliest incident I ever remember.”  Although no one has yet to claim the responsibility of the bombing, suspicions immediately fell on the Al-Shabab, which means means The Youth in Arabic. It is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK and is believed to have between 7,000 and 9,000 fighters. .

As the death toll grew, the Somalia president, Mohamed Abdullahi declared three days of national mourning. He also donated blood for the victims and asked the citizens to do the same.  “Today’s horrific attack proves our enemy would stop at nothing to cause our people pain and suffering. Let us unite against terror,” he stated.

The U.S military reported it had resumed its fight against the extremist group Shabab. The U.S. has stepped up its military involvement in the long- fractured Horn of Africa nation since President Donald Trump approved expanded operations against the group early this year.

Source: Chicagotribune.com, thenewyorktimes.com