Somalia blast: Death toll rises to 85

A massive bomb attack in a busy area of the Somali capital Mogadishu has killed at least 85 people, officials say.

Dozens more were wounded when a lorry packed with explosives detonated near the entrance of a hotel.

Police say two people were killed in a second bomb attack in the Madina district of the city.

It is not clear who staged the attacks. Mogadishu is a regular target for the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab group, which is battling the government.

President Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" Mohamed has declared three days of mourning for the victims of the blast.

Local media reported families were gathering in the area on Sunday morning, looking for missing loved ones amidst the ruins of one of the largest bombs ever to strike the city.

Source: BBC