A massive truck bomb in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu has killed up to 230 people and wounded hundreds more.
The embassy of Qatar was also severely damaged in the explosion.
Somalia which is considered a failed state as its federal government is unable to exercise authority over the extent of the country has been racked by violence for decades.
Although no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, Somalia has been struggling to combat an Islamist insurgency since 2008 spearheaded by a radical Muslim terrorist group “Al Shabaab” which has carried out similar atrocities against civilian targets in the past.
The Somali President has declared three days of mourning.