MOGADISHU, Somalia: At least three people in Somalia were killed and four others wounded after twin car bomb blasts hit a security checkpoint near the African Union’s mission headquarters and Mogadishu’s main international airport Monday.
Abdi Ganey, a Somali national intelligence and security agency officer, confirmed to Anadolu Agency that soldiers and civilians were among the casualties.
“It is too early to say how many people have been killed or injured but I can confirm to you that one soldier and two civilians were killed and three soldiers also wounded,” Ganey said.
“The first car bomb was a suicide. Our forces stopped the car and seconds later the car went off. The other blast took place near a hotel, near the airport,” he added.
Ali Abdihakin, an eyewitness, told Anadolu Agency there was gunfire after the bombs.
“I was near were the incident took place. The first car bomb exploded at a checkpoint and other one targeted the Peace Hotel. After the explosions we heard gunfire,” Abdihakin said.
The Peace Hotel is much-frequented by Somali officials and foreigners. It hosted a major Intergovernmental Authority on Development meeting in September last year.
Somali rebel group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for Monday’s car bombings via their radio station.
