Gunfire and blast heard at Aden Adde airport, Mogadishu Somalia
The explosions, which were followed by gunfire, took place near Aden Adde International Airport, in the Somalian capital Mogadishu. A suicide car bomb exploded at a checkpoint outside the main African peacekeepers (AMISOM) base in the capital, police said. The car exploded as it was being searched by security personnel at the airport.
TWITTER The blast was followed by gunfire at the Mogadishu airport
A suicide car bomb rammed into the checkpoint outside the AMISOM base Abdikadir Hussein
It was meters away from the AMISOM main base, the United Nations offices and the Peace Hotel, which is often frequented by foreigners and officials. Police officer Abdikadir Hussein said: "A suicide car bomb rammed into the checkpoint outside the AMISOM base." A second blast and gunfire was heard after the attack, but there have been no further details and there has been no immediate claim of responsibility.
However, Islamist al-Shabaab militants, who are linked to al-Qaeda and are trying to topple the Western-backed government, have carried out similar attacks in the past. Officer Mohamed Ahmed said: ”So far we know three of the security forces died. We believe al-Shabaab is behind the attack.” He said the death toll was likely to increase because the bomb was powerful and it had caused damage even to nearby residential buildings. The power of the blast reportedly blew off the roofs of nearby houses while pictures posted on social media show plumes of white smoke billowing into the air. And foreigners staying at the hotel have been evacuated to Halane Amison basecamp, according to unconfirmed reports.
KHADAR MOHAMUD HARED The blasts shattered the doors at the international airport
A photographer at the scene saw the burnt-out shell of the bomber's car and another vehicle nearby on fire. Nearly 300 members of Somalia's federal parliament were sworn in last week and they are expected to elect a new president. Foreigners staying at the hotel have been evacuated to Halane Amison basecamp, according to unconfirmed reports.
ADEN ADDE AIRPORT The twin blasts were heard at Aden Adde International Airport
Al-Shabaab killed six people in an attack on a residential area in Kenya last October. Police said the attackers broke down a compound entrance with a grenade before opening fire on the residents, who were asleep. In the same month, the depraved terror group also killed 12 other people in Kenya after blowing up part of a hotel in a targeted attack on “non-Muslims”. The massive blast ripped through a guest house in the Mandera region. In a statement after the attack, the group said it was specifically targeting non-Muslims.
NC Six people were killed in an al-Shabaab attack last October
REUTERS The terror group went on to kill 12 others in an attack targeting 'non-Muslims'