Car bomb kills at least one, wounds three in Somalia's capital: Police

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least one person was killed and three others wounded in a car bomb explosion in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Saturday night at around 8:30 P.M. local time.

Capt Bashir Ahmed, a senior police officer in the city, told Garowe Online via phone that the blast was caused by an explosive device attached to a bullet-proof car that went off at a petrol station in KM4 vicinity.

Ahmed added that the victims were civilians riding an auto-rickshaw riding in the area at the time of the blast that was followed by heavy gunfire from a nearby police security checkpoint.

The incident took place near the Afrik hotel along the airport road which came under the Al-Shabaab attack last week that left at least 11 people, including a retired army general and a newly-wedded couple.

No group has so claimed responsibility for the bombing which seems aimed to kill an official in the car. Police sealed off the site after the attack and no arrest was made.

Somalia faces an increasing terrorist attack from Al-Shabaab as the political leaders are in deadlock over the electoral process as time is running out for President Farmajo's mandate which is expiring on February 8.

The Islamist group was pushed out of key areas in the south and central parts of the country but it still remains a potent threat to national and regional security. 

GAROWE ONLINE