Casualties feared in car bomb blast in Somali capital

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Several people are feared dead after a huge car bomb blast targeted a security checkpoint near the Somali parliament headquarters in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday, police said.

An explosive-laden vehicle passed through a security checkpoint causing security forces to open fire and the vehicle exploded close to another checkpoint at the Sayidka junction, according to local media and police sources.

Somali police spokesman Sadaq Adan Ali confirmed the car bomb blast to Anadolu Agency over the phone.

"The police, other security forces, and paramedics reached the scene and the road leading to the presidential palace were closed," he said.

"We do not know yet the number of casualties from the car bomb blast but the police started an investigation," the spokesman added.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but Somali-based al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group al-Shabaab carried out recent attacks in the Horn of African country.