Somalia blast kills at least 6 near presidential palace

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Police in Somalia say a suicide car bombing near the presidential palace has killed at least six people and wounded several others.

Col. Ahmed Mohamud says those killed in the Saturday morning blast include soldiers and civilians.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the bomber targeted a military checkpoint near the rear entrance of the heavily fortified palace.

Police say lawmakers and other officials had been traveling nearby on what is a business day in the Horn of Africa nation.

A second blast was heard shortly afterward nearby in Mogadishu as a plume of smoke rose over the capital.

There is no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group often targets the capital. </s> A car bomb exploded Tuesday at a military checkpoint near Somalia's presidential palace in the capital, killing at least six people, the spokesman for Mogadishu's mayor said. The blast was detonated after soldiers tried to stop the car and the bomber tried to speed through the checkpoint, police Capt.

Start the conversation, or Read more at The Tribune. </s> MOGADISHU — Police in Somalia say a suicide car bombing near the presidential palace has killed at least six people and wounded several others. Col. Ahmed Mohamud says those killed in the Saturday morning blast include soldiers and civilians.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the bomber targeted a military checkpoint near the rear entrance of the heavily fortified palace.

Police say lawmakers and other officials had been traveling nearby on what is a business day in the Horn of Africa nation.

A second blast was heard shortly afterward nearby in Mogadishu as a plume of smoke rose over the capital.

Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab has since claimed responsibility for deadly bomb blasts.

The group was targeting security checkpoints protecting the presidential palace, the group said on pro-insurgent radio station Andalus. </s> Two car bombs and gunfire near the presidential palace in Mogadishu has left up to 38 people dead and 20 others wounded according to conflicting reports. Al-Shabab, an Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for Friday’s deadly attack, which appeared to be coordinated. One of the car bombs targeted the presidential palace, while a second blast took place near a popular hotel. Both cars were driven by suicide bombers, according to an Al-Shabab spokesman. Somali officials claim that five attackers were shot and killed in a subsequent firefight. The incident comes a day after the Somali government issued a “terror warning” in the capital. In October, 500 people were killed by a truck bomb in Mogadishu – one of Somali’s deadliest terror attacks. </s> MOGADISHU, Somalia — Police in Somalia say a suicide car bombing near the presidential palace has killed at least six people and wounded several others.

Col. Ahmed Mohamud says those killed in the Saturday morning blast include soldiers and civilians.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the bomber targeted a military checkpoint near the rear entrance of the heavily fortified palace.

Police say lawmakers and other officials had been traveling nearby on what is a business day in the Horn of Africa nation.

A second blast was heard shortly afterward nearby in Mogadishu as a plume of smoke rose over the capital.

There is no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group often targets the capital.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> Suicide car bombing near Somalia's presidential palace kills at least 6, police say; several wounded

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Suicide car bombing near Somalia's presidential palace kills at least 6, police say; several wounded. </s> MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Suicide car bombing near Somalia’s presidential palace kills at least 6, police say; several wounded. </s> MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Police in Somalia say a suicide car bombing near the presidential palace has killed at least six people and wounded several others. </s> At least 38 people were killed in two separate car-bomb attacks in Somalia’s Mogadishu on Friday, BBC reported. The first blasts occurred outside the presidential palace on Friday and the second at hotel nearby. Several people were injured in the blast. The attacks follow the government’s issuance of a terror warning a day earlier, Al Jazeera reported.

An exchange of fire followed the blast near the presidential palace. Security forces killed five militants, officials said.

The Al Qaeda linked group extremist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for both the attacks. The militant group has been targeting the country with attacks to oust the government. A gun battle followed the attack near the presidential palace in which five militants were killed, officials say.

On October 14, 2017, blasts in Mogadishu had killed at least 358 people. Al Shabaab did not claim the attacks, but are believed to be behind it.
A car bomb near the presidential palace in Mogadishu kills at least 16 people and injures more than 20 others.