A Somali police officer says a suicide bomber on Monday detonated an explosive-laden vehicle at a security checkpoint near Mogadishu’s international airport, killing at least three people.
Capt Mohamed Hussein says the bomb detonated as security forces were searching cars at the checkpoint, a few hundred metres from the main base of the African Union peacekeeping mission. The checkpoint is close to United Nations offices and the Peace Hotel, which is often frequented by foreigners and officials.
The powerful blast blew roofs off nearby buildings. A second blast and heavy gunfire could be heard at the checkpoint after the attack, but there were no immediate details. The al-Qaeda-linked Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, quickly claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack through its radio arm, Andalus.
Despite being ousted from most of its key strongholds across large parts of south and central Somalia, the homegrown group continues to wage deadly attacks.