Somalia: Blasts kill 2, including Govt official in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least two people were killed and several others injured in two explosions in Mogadishu, the Somali capital on Saturday morning, Garowe Online reports.

An employee at the ministry of religious affairs identified as Faud Jama Salad was killed, his brother and mother were wounded at a bomb fitted into his vehicle exploded in the capital's Bondhere district.

Speaking to Garowe Online from the scene, Capt Hassan Abdi, a Somali Police officer said several suspects have been arrested in connection with Saturday's blast that left the government official dead.

The incident took place at Daljirka Dahsoon [The tomb of the unknown soldier] as Salad was on his way to Aden Adde International Airport with members of his family, according to Abdi.

"An explosion resulted from an explosive device planted under a private vehicle of a staffer with the Religious Affairs Ministry occurred in Mogadishu early Saturday. I'm told, the driver is dead," said a witness.

No group has yet claimed the responsibility for the attack.

In a separate incident, a landmine targeting a Somali senior police officer identified as Abdi Shoshow has killed a civilian and injured two others, including a bodyguard.

Shoshow escaped unhurt in the attack.

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility for the midday explosion in Forilow area, located outside Mogadishu, saying it killed six Mogadishu Municipality staff members.

Mogadishu mayor, however, did not comment on the Al-Shabab claims.

Despite tight security and heavy presence of troops on main streets, Somalia's capital Mogadishu was hit by its deadliest single attack last week when a truck bomb exploded, killing more than 500 people and wounding many more.

The coastal city has been facing deadly attacks for years as al-Shabab, an armed group is waging a decade-long insurgency aimed at ousting the country's Western-backed weak government.

GAROWE ONLINE