Somalia: Car bomb attack strikes local govt HQ in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A car bomb explosion struck a local government office in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Monday morning, killing at least four people, the latest in a string of attacks in the seaside city in the past months, Garowe Online reports.

A witness, speaking to Garowe Online said a suspected Al-Shabaab attacker has detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at the gate of Hodon district headquarters in Mogadishu at around 10:00 P.M. local time.

Monday's car bomb attack ripped through the district HQ and caused nearby buildings to collapse. A thick plume of white smoke was seen billowing from the scene as ambulances rushed the wounded to the hospitals.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack which becomes the second such car bombing targeting a district office in the Horn of Africa capital in a month.

Today's bombing comes as Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is set to open the 4th session of the country's Parliament Scuola di Polizia under tight security.

On September 2, at least 10 people, including civilians and soldiers, were killed in a car bomb attack at Howlwadaag district HQ. The attack was claimed by Al-Shabaab.

The al-Qaeda-linked group is fighting to overthrow the United Nations-backed government in Mogadishu and has been carrying our bomb attacks for more than a decade.

GAROWE ONLINE