NAIROBI — Somalia was hit by two attacks Monday. One killed an Islamic cleric and 17 of his followers for playing music; a second killed at least six people in a car bomb blast in the capital, Mogadishu, police said.

Captain Mohamed Hussein said 15 people were also injured, and the blast appears to have been aimed at soldiers.

In the northern city of Galkayo, an Islamic leader and at least 17 followers were killed for having music in their religious ceremonies, police said.

Two suicide bombers exploded bombs in front of the preacher’s residence, which is also a Sufi shrine, and then four gunmen stormed the building, said Ahmed Awale, a police officer in Galkayo.

At least 20 others were injured.

Somali security forces responded and three attackers were killed. One was captured alive, said Awale.

Somalia’s extremist rebels, al-Shabab, have claimed responsibility for the attack in Galkayo. It killed Sheikh Abdiweli Ali Elmi, who has been controversial because videos show him and his followers chanting religious poems with music, which the sheikh had said was not contrary to Islamic teachings.

Associated Press