By AFP

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MOGADISHU,

Two people were killed and five wounded on Tuesday when a car packed with explosives was detonated near the ministry of petroleum in the Somali capital, a security official said.

Mohamed Abdullahi Tulah, a regional security official, said the vehicle was parked at a petrol station in front of the ministry's offices in Mogadishu when it was detonated.

"It was hidden inside the petrol station parking where it went off, two civilians were killed and five others wounded in the blast," he told a press conference.

A witness, Dahir Adan, said one of those killed was a woman who was selling tea close to the blast scene.

"The blast was very heavy but luckily it did not cause fire destroying the petrol station and the casualty (toll) was minimal," he added.

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No group claimed responsibility.

Al-Shabaab jihadists seeking to topple the internationally-backed government regularly carry out attacks in the Somali capital.</s>At least two people were killed and five wounded on Tuesday in a suicide car bomb attack near the ministry of petroleum in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

A security official, Mohamed Abdullahi Tulah, said the car loaded with explosives was parked at a gas station near the Ministry.

Witnesses say one of the victims killed is a woman who sold tea near the site.

Though there was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday’s attack, Al Shabaab Islamists, have a history of conducting such bombings in the Somali capital.

Chased out of Mogadishu in 2011, the Shebab then lost most of their strongholds.

They have been fighting to to topple the western backed government of Somalia for over a decade.</s>MOGADISHU - Two people were killed and five wounded on Tuesday when a car packed with explosives was detonated near the ministry of petroleum in the Somali capital, a security official said.

Mohamed Abdullahi Tulah, a regional security official, said the vehicle was parked at a petrol station in front of the ministry's offices in Mogadishu when it was detonated.

“It was hidden inside the petrol station parking where it went off, two civilians were killed, and five others wounded in the blast,” he told a press conference.

A witness, Dahir Adan, said one of those killed was a woman who was selling tea close to the blast scene.

“The blast was very heavy but luckily it did not cause fire destroying the petrol station and the casualty (toll) was minimal,” he added.

Al-Shabaab jihadists seeking to topple the internationally-backed government regularly carry out attacks in the Somali capital.

The al-Qaeda affiliated group was largely driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 and has lost many of its strongholds. But it retains control of large rural swathes of the country and continues to wage a guerrilla war against the authorities.
Two people were killed and five others were injured in a car bombing near the Somali Petroleum Ministry and the responsibility was claimed by Al-Shabaab.