In the Somali capital, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into a checkpoint at the presidential palace, killing eight people and wounding nine.
The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a checkpoint near the presidential palace in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The blast killed eight people and injured nine others. The dead and injured were shifted to a nearby hospital where the condition of three injured is critical and the death toll is expected to rise.
Police say the blast was caused by a suicide car bomber who struck a car checkpoint after failing to enter the presidential palace. The al-Shabab militant group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing.
Officials say the president and prime minister were in the presidential palace at the time of the blast and are in good health.
It should be noted that al-Shabab is active in most parts of Somalia, but the capital is still under the control of government forces, where al-Shabab fighters continue to operate.
