Somalia: Huge blast and heavy gunfire rock Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A powerful car bomb blast ripped through the heart of Mogadishu, the Somali capital on Thursday morning after a bomb was set off near the heavily fortified country's presidential palace, Garowe Online reports.

According to police, at least four people were killed and nine others sustained wounds in the explosion which occurred in an area near the main checkpoint at the entrance of the State House.

There are fears that the death toll could rise further. Plumes of thick smoke have seen rising above the city after the deafening blast.

"We heard a loud explosion this morning around the National Theatre near the presidential palace that was followed by clouds of smoke and heavy gunfire," said an eyewitness, who spoke to GO by phone.

The car laden with explosives was parked outside a small but busy eatery alongside the road leading to palace.

It was detonated as many vehicles were in line for checking-in to pass the checkpoint.

Al Shabaab has immediately claimed responsibility for the huge blast, saying 10 10 soldiers lost their lives in the bombing.

Early this month, at least 30 people died and dozens injured in three car bombings in happened in Makka Al-Mukarama road, one of the busiest streets in the capital lined with hotels, shops, and restaurants.

After twin blasts, at least three heavily armed gunmen stormed a building next to Makka Al-Mukarama hotel last Thursday' night, who had taken over a building in central Mogadishu, using civilians as human shields, officials say.

Somalia's special forces have killed all the gunmen, ending a nearly day-long siege.

GAROWE ONLINE