Auto bomb detonates near Somalia’s presidential palace

At least five people were killed when a vehicle bomb exploded close to the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Monday, police said.

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab have often used cars driven by suicide bombers as a way of breaking into a location, with more attackers following on foot.

Mogadishu police officer Ahmed Shire told Xinhua that the explosion was huge and 9 people, which include two Somali soldiers, four civilians and three foreigners, were killed.

A witness named Ali Ahmed said “the explosion occurred between the main entrance of (the Villa Somalia) and a nearby hotel…”

The message said the attack targeted “senior apostate leaders and Christian foreign invaders”.

He said it exploded near the checkpoint at the entrance to Villa Somalia. But the group has repeatedly staged similar attacks on government buildings and officials.

A conference debating the nature of Somalia’s election in 2016 had just ended in the compound.

However, most delegates are thought to have left the palace and a few who remained could be the casualties.

He said there was no immediate claim of responsibility from the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, which is trying to overthrow President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s Western-backed government.