A car bomb exploded near a checkpoint in Somalia capital Mogadishu on Wednesday, killing at least two people and wounding 12 others, officials said.

The bombing was claimed by Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab, which said in a statement it had targeted a convoy escorting officials and lawmakers heading to the presidential palace.

"A car bomb blast struck at a checkpoint near Daljirka, there are some casualties including members of the security forces," said security official Abdukadir Ahmed after the attack in the south of the city.

Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of Aamin ambulance service told AFP two people were killed and twelve others wounded in the blast. </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, Somalia — Police in Somalia say a car bomb has exploded at a military checkpoint near the presidential palace in the capital, killing at least five people.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein says Tuesday's blast was detonated after soldiers tried to stop the car.

Hussein says three other people have been injured.

Witness Ahmed Ali says he saw the bodies of two soldiers after the blast.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.

Extremist group al-Shabab often claims responsibility for deadly bombings in Mogadishu.

The blast comes a few hours after Somalia's new prime minister unveiled a 26-member cabinet. </s> Somali soldiers and a boy stand near the wreckage of a three-wheeled motorcycle taxi at the scene of a car bomb explosion near the parliament building in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia (AP)

MOGADISHU: At least four people were killed Sunday in a suicide car bomb attack in central Mogadishu, police and witnesses said.

"There was a blast at a checkpoint close to the interior ministry. Four people were killed including two members of the security forces," Abdulahi Mohamed, a police officer in the capital, told AFP. The other two victims were civilians.

"We don’t have the details yet but the indications show that a bomber was involved trying to pass by the security checkpoint," he added.

IN PICS: Somalia explosion: Deadly car bomb kills four in capital Mogadishu

According to the official and witnesses, the car blew up before the security forces were able to inspect it.

"I saw the bodies of two soldiers and two civilians," eyewitness Cise Abdurahman said.

"The explosion was significant and the car was reduced to pieces. It exploded between two concrete barriers" at the checkpoint, he added.

It was the second car bomb attack this week in the Somali capital after one blew up Thursday outside a popular hotel, killing 14 people.

Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shabaab jihadists has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

Mogadishu is regularly hit by bomb attacks carried out by Shabaab which is fighting to overthrow Somalia's internationally-backed government.

In February twin car bombings left 38 people dead in the Somali capital.

In October last year, Somalia suffered its deadliest-ever attack in which more than 500 people were killed in a truck bombing in a busy part of the city.

In the wake of that attack, Somalia's government declared a fresh offensive against Shabaab. </s> A car laden with explosives has blown up near an army checkpoint outside Mogadishu, wounding at least four soldiers, according to a Somali security officer.

Soldiers reportedly chased the driver before he detonated the explosives.

"We received information of the car bomb and we pursued it, but he blew up while we were chasing him," the security officer said.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the explosion.

In the past, al-Shabab has taken responsibility for blasts and gun attacks in the capital.

The armed group has said that it would launch deadly attacks against Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Somalia's new president, also known as Farmajo.

#UPDATE: Four soldiers wounded after suicide bomber blew himself up near army checkpoint outside #Mogadishu - Witness #Somalia pic.twitter.com/md5wH58h6C — Live From Somalia (@Tuuryare_Africa) February 27, 2017

Al-Shabab earlier this week denounced Mohamed's election, calling him an apostate.

The new president, who was inaugurated on Wednesday , has promised to make security a priority.

On Sunday, a car bomb in the capital killed at least 39 people .

Fighters affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) have also emerged in Somalia. </s> A Somalia police spokesman said a suicide car bomb by Islamic extremists has killed at least six people in the capital Wednesday.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein said most of the casualties are soldiers and more than 13 people were injured.

Somalia's extremist rebel group, al-Shabab, has claimed the responsibility for the blast, saying it targeted vehicles carrying government officials.

The car bomb exploded at a security checkpoint near the presidential palace in Mogadishu as soldiers were conducting security checks on vehicles on the main road.

Al-Shabab frequently carries out bomb blasts in the capital near the presidential compound and at hotels frequented by government officials and foreigners. </s> A Somali soldier stands on guard next to a destroyed car near a popular mall after a car bomb attack in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sunday, July 30, 2017. (AAP)

At least six people were killed and ten others injured when a car bomb exploded in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

A car bomb explosion in the Somali capital Mogadishu has killed six and wounded 20 others, with the death toll likely to rise.

The bomb went off on the busy Maka al Mukaram road on Sunday, police said, while a witness said the blast was followed by big clouds of smoke visible in sky.

"So far we know six civilians died and 20 others were injured. They were mostly pedestrians while others were shopping," the police officer said.

"Death toll may rise. Most of the injured ones are very serious," said Major Mohamed Hussein, a police officer.

Earlier, a Reuters reporter at the scene of the blast had counted four bodies lying on the ground. Photographs showed three destroyed cars on the road, with two still burning.

It was not clear who was responsible for the blast. </s> MOGADISHU: A car bomb exploded at a checkpoint less than a kilometer away from the presidential compound in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, police said.

"A suicide car bomb rammed into a checkpoint near the national theatre. It is too early to know details and casualties," said Ahmed Hussein, a police officer.

The theatre is about 300 meters away from the heavily-fortified compound known as Villa Somalia, which also houses other government agencies.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the explosion. In the past, al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab has taken responsibility for blasts and gun attacks in the capital.

Al Shabaab has been able to carry out deadly bombings despite losing most of its territory to African Union peacekeepers supporting the Somali government.

The group's insurgency aims to drive out the peacekeepers, topple Somalia's western-backed government and impose its strict version of Islam on the Horn of Africa state.

Somalia swore in a new leader last month. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has promised al Shabaab's fighters "a good life" if they surrender. </s> MOGADISHU, Somalia -- A suicide car bomber killed at least 16 people and injured nine others at a police station in the Somalia capital, a Somali police official said Sunday.

The attack early Sunday targeted a police station adjacent to Mogadishu port, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein.

At the blast scene, medical workers carried bodies burned beyond recognition to ambulances. Human limbs and bloodied shoes were scattered across the blast scene.

Most of the victims are port workers and police officers.

Somalia's Islamic extremist rebels, Al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the attack, the second blast in the seaside capital in two days. The insurgents said they had killed "apostates" in the attack, according to the group's Andalus radio.

On Saturday, a suspected suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at a security checkpoint near Mogadishu when soldiers stopped him for security checks.

Despite being ousted from most of its key strongholds in Somalia, al-Shabab still launches deadly attacks across large parts of south and central Somalia.
A car bomb explodes near a checkpoint outside Mogadishu, wounding at least four Somali soldiers.