Somalia: Car bomb kills 10 people

A car bomb rocked Somali capital leaving 10 people dead and 20 wounded.

15:26 20 March 2013

Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, was hit by a deadly car bombthat left 10 people dead and 20 wounded, according to reports.

This is being considered as one of the most deadly attacks on the coastal city since last year when a new UN-backed Somali was formed. The main task was to end more than 20 years of conflict in the country.

Police believe that the explosion, which is understood to have taken place near the presidential palace, was aimed at a senior security official. The Islamist militant group al-Shabab has apparently said it carried out the bombing.

It is also acknowledged that the bomber was supposedly targeting Mr Ilig, whom it accused of co-operating with Western agencies.

Based on reports, the suicide bomber blew up the car between the palace and the national theater. Seconds after, a public mini bus was seen bursting into flames.

Senior police officer Abdiqadir Mohamud said: "Most of the people who died were on board the minibus - civilians. This public vehicle coincidentally came between the government car and the car bomb when it was hit.”