Car Bomb in Somalia Claims 5 Lives

A car bomb in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu has apparently claimed the lives of five people, with the death toll still expected to rise.

According to police officials, a car bomb exploded at a military checkpoint, close to the presidential palace on the outskirts of Mogadishu on Tuesday.

Police Captain, Mohamed Hussein, told reporters that soldiers tried in vain to stop the car, and that the bomb went off while they were trying to stop the car. He further confirmed that at least three people had been injured in the blast.

While it was not confirmed whether soldiers were injured or killed in the blast, a witness told reporters that he saw the bodies of two soldiers after the bomb detonated.

Interestingly enough, the blast close to the presidential palace comes only a day after the newly elected prime minister of Somalia unveiled his new, 26-person cabinet to the public.

It is not yet known whether the blast was intended to be in response to the unveiling of the new cabinet.

Thus far, no one has claimed responsibility.

Car bombs in Mogadishu are not uncommon. Terrorist organisation, al-Shabaab, frequently targets military checkpoints close to the presidential palace and has claimed responsibility for several, fatal car bombings in the area over the past few months.