Somalia: Prominent MP escapes car bomb; two injured

MOGADISHU, Somalia - An outspoken lawmaker in Somali parliament has escaped unhurt after a bomb ripped through his vehicle in Mogadishu on Tuesday amidst tight security, Garowe Online reports.

Capt. Hassan Abdi, a police officer said the blast was possibly caused by an explosive device which a powerful bomb placed under the seat of his car which went off on business district along the busy Makka Al-Mukarama street.

The MP, Dahir Amin Jesow was in a nearby shopping mall at the time of the blast, but, two people, including his driver, were critically wounded in the car bomb "assassination" attempt.

A witness told GO that Somali police sealed off access roads to the road after the blast, which also caused massive damage to the front of several business buildings.

No group has immediately claimed the responsibility for the attack on Jesow, who is a vocal supporter of the current Somali Federal Government.

Tuesday's attack comes barely two weeks after triple car bombings killed at least 50 people and injured more than 100 in outside Sahafi hotel in Mogadishu. 

GAROWE ONLINE