Suicide bombing kills 16 in Somalia

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia

At least 16 people were killed and 20 others wounded when a suicide car bombing targeted a security checkpoint near the presidential palace in Mogadishu on Saturday morning, officials said.

"What we know about the attack is that a suicide car bomb blast targeted one of our security checkpoints in Mogadishu, killing at least 6 people,” Ibrahim Hassan, a police officer, told Anadolu Agency over the phone.

Ten others, including a lawmaker and municipality official, were rushed to hospitals for treatment, he added.

Casualties from the attack rose later during the day, security officials said.

A second bomb blast hit the same area half and hour later sending thick white smoke billowing into the sky, said a police officer who did not wish to be named.

Local media reported that Mohamed , deputy governor of Banaadir region in which Mogadishu is located, is among the casualties.

London-based Somali journalist Awil Dahir also died in the blast, Information Minister Dahir Mohamud Gelle confirmed.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks in an online statement.

Somali spy agency National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said in a tweet the perpetrator of the first attack and driver of the second car bombing had been arrested.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and extended condolences.

"We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks perpetrated in Mogadishu this morning with car bomb explosions, causing the loss of lives of many people and the injury of others.

"We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives in these heinous attacks, a speedy recovery to the wounded and convey our condolences to the friendly and brotherly Government and people of Somalia," the ministry said in a statement.

* Seyit Ahmet Aytac contributed to the report from Ankara and Tufan Aktas from Addis Ababa