Three killed in car bombing in Somalia’s capital

At least three police officers were killed when a car bomb exploded near a police building in the Somalian capital, Mogadishu, on 9 March. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. A second device was also detonated but failed to cause any casualties. These are the latest attacks on the capital that al-Shabaab has carried out in recent weeks, despite a broadening of operations against the group. While the group confirmed that US air strikes had successfully targeted one of its facilities on 5 March, it argued that the 150 lives the US claimed were taken was exaggerated. Separately, on the night of 8 March, special forces staged a raid on training camps in southern Somalia, in which 11 militants were reportedly killed. It is believed the operation was conducted by the US and African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) and has subsequently been reported that it was a targeted mission that killed a top militant.

Al-Shabab fighters march with their weapons during military exercises on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia. Photo: AP