10 killed in twin explosions in Somalia

A former Islamist lawmaker turned al Shabaab militant was one of the drivers in Tuesday’s double auto bomb attack on the African Union’s main peacekeeping base in Somalia, al Shabaab said.

Two suspected Al-Shabab vehicle bombs exploded outside the main entrance of Mogadishu’s airport early Tuesday, July 26, during morning rush hour, said security officials of Somalia.

At least 13 people were killed in an attack this morning by al-Shabab at the African Union (AU) base near the airport in Mogadishu. The number of casualties from the second explosion remains unclear, said AP.

Al-Shabaab affiliated media, Radio Andalus, confirmed on Wednesday the involvement of the former MP in the bombing attack saying he drove one of the cars that exploded at the entrance of the AMISOM base.

Witnesses noticed a thick plummet of smoke rising from the area and officials revealed that the site of the attack is the base for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Al-Shabaab have also carried out cross border raids into neighbouring Kenya as a means to pressure the Nairobi government to withdraw its forces from the African Union deployment in Somalia.

Last month 14 people were killed in another suicide attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, which was claimed by Al Shabaab.

Several buildings used by the United Nations are located near the airport, as are barracks used by AU troops, who are in Somalia to help the government fight al-Shabaab militants.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available. AP material published by LongIsland.com, is done so with explicit permission. Doing so may result in civil and/or criminal penalties.