Mortar shells land near presidential palace in Somali capital

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least nine people were wounded Thursday in the Somali capital after a mortar attack near the residence of the president, police said.

Abdi Hassan, a police officer in Mogadishu who spoke to Anadolu Agency over the phone, said that several shells landed in the neighborhoods of Bondhere and Abdiasis.

"We heard several explosions early morning on Thursday. When we investigated, we found out the explosions were mortar attacks," he said, confirming all of the casualties were civilians.

Rescue workers and police have reached the site and are transporting the injured to hospital.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has not issued a statement yet, but a police officer told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity that no shells landed at his residence.

He said he believes that the target was Godka Jilacow, a prison run by the country's intelligence agency, located close to the presidential palace.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab terrorist group has claimed responsibility for recent attacks in the Horn of African country.