MOGADISHU, Somalia — Police say a bomb blast at a stadium in southern Somalia has killed five football fans.
Col. Abdirizak Ahmed tells The Associated Press that eight others were wounded in the explosion during a local match in the packed stadium in the port town of Barawe.
He says most are seriously wounded and are being treated at a local hospital.
Witnesses say the bomb was buried in the sandy stadium.
The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility for the blast.
Barawe once was a key al-Shabab stronghold before Somali and African Union forces seized the town and drove out the extremists, who had banned sports activities in areas under their control.
Al-Shabab still has a large presence in Lower Shabelle region and has carried out several attacks in the town.
