Powerful car bomb explosion hits Somali capital, leaves four dead

A deadly car bomb explosion claimed by al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab Takfiri terrorists has hit near the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital, security officials and witnesses say.

An explosives-laden car went off near a restaurant near the presidential palace in the heart of Mogadishu on Thursday morning, Somali police official Ibrahim Mohamed told AFP.

“The blast occurred at a checkpoint close to the National Theatre, we don’t have the details but there are casualties,” a security official said.

Somali police said four people have been killed and nine others sustained injuries in the powerful blast.

The al-Shabab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Last week, at least 36 people, mostly civilians, were killed and over 60 wounded after a bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into the Hotel Maka al-Mukarama and nearby buildings in Mogadishu.

Al-Shabab claimed that attack as well and threatened more such assaults in the future.

SS