At least seven people people were killed as a suicide car bomb exploded near the Somali president’s palace in Mogadishu, causing a huge blast and destroying two nearby hotels, according to police.
Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab fighters claimed responsibility for the attack in the Somali capital on Tuesday, according to the Reuters news agency.
Witnesses and social media users said they heard the loud explosion in Somalia’s capital. Gunfire was also heard after the blast.
“There was a blast close to the SYL hotel area, near the main checkpoint of the presidential palace,” said Ibrahim Mohamed, a security officer.
BREAKING: #AlShabaab claims responsibility for the truck bomb attack on popular SYL hotel near #Somalia‘s presidential palace in #Mogadishu.
— Live From Mogadishu (@Daudoo) August 30, 2016
#BREAKING Powerfull explosion rocked in Mogadishu on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/UyPQTTc9ZZ
— Somalia Live Update (@HassanIstiila) August 30, 2016
