Two deadly attacks in Somalia

Suicide bombers in Somalia killed a prominent Islamic leader and at least 17 of his followers on Monday for having music in their religious ceremonies, according to police. Two suicide bombers set off explosives in front of Sheikh Abdiweli Ali Elmi’s home, which also served as a Sufi shrine, said Ahmed Awale, a police official in the northern city of Galkayo. Four gunmen then stormed the building and opened fire. Awale said officials who responded to the incident killed three attackers and captured one alive. The extremist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, which injured at least 20 other people.

Islamic extremists condemned Elmi’s practice of chanting religious poems with music, but the cleric repeatedly defended his actions, claiming music is not in conflict with Islamic teachings.

In a separate attack on Monday, a car bomb exploded at a busy junction in the capital city of Mogadishu, killing at least six people and injuring 15 others, according to senior Somali police Capt. Mohamed Hussein.