A suicide car bomb attack at a security checkpoint in Mogadishu, Somalian capital city, has left 10 people dead, including seven members of the security forces, two civilians, and the suicide bomber, according to Somali Police.
The incident occurred when security personnel attempted to stop a speeding vehicle approaching the checkpoint.
“The security personnel had attempted to halt the vehicle as it approached the checkpoint at speed,” a police spokesman stated. Despite their efforts, the vehicle exploded, leading to the tragic loss of lives.
The al-Shabaab Islamist militant group, which has been responsible for numerous attacks in Somalia, has claimed responsibility for this bombing. The group, which has continued to control certain regions in Somalia despite being pushed back from the capital in recent years, has a history of targeting government facilities and public places in Mogadishu.
In a related development, Somali police reported that a second attack in the same area was thwarted shortly after the initial bombing. Acting on a tip-off, security forces discovered another car packed with explosives and conducted a controlled detonation, averting further casualties.
This attack came just days after another tragic incident in Mogadishu, where a remotely detonated bomb claimed 11 lives at a local restaurant. Al-Shabaab has also claimed responsibility for that attack.
