Somalia: Suicide blast kills 5 soldiers

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least five Somali soldiers have been killed and several others injured on Monday in a suicide attack near a military training base in the capital of Mogadishu.

The incident took place when a suicide bomber, who disguised as a soldier, blew himself up at the entrance of the military training base, a security official said.

"A suicide bomber disguised as a soldier blew himself up at the entrance of a military training base in the Wadger district, west of the capital," the security official, who requested anonymity due to restriction to speak to the media, told Anadolu Agency.

Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda linked militant group, later claimed responsibility for the attack via its radio Andalus.

The group claimed 24 government soldiers were killed in the attack and several others injured.

On Sunday, at least 15 people, including soldiers and civilians, were killed and more than five others injured after a suicide car bomb blast targeted Somalia’s new armed forces commander.

The Somali government has been battling the al-Qaeda-linked militant group since 2004.