Image copyright Universal TV / Reuters Image caption The attack was claimed by Islamist militants

Two car-bomb attacks have killed at least 38 people in the Somali capital Mogadishu, officials say.

The first took place outside the presidential palace late on Friday. The second hit a nearby hotel. Dozens of people were wounded.

The Islamist militant group al-Shabab, which has been trying to oust Somalia's government, says it was behind both.

A gun battle followed the attack near the presidential palace in which five militants were killed, officials say.

Friday's bombings are the latest in a series of attacks attributed to al-Shabab, which once controlled Mogadishu before being forced out by African Union troops in 2011.

Last October, more than 500 people were killed by a truck bomb in the city. Officials blamed al-Shabab but the group never said it was behind that attack.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Injured civilians were taken to hospital

The latest incident began when a vehicle failed to stop at a checkpoint outside the presidential palace before being blown up, state media say. This was followed by an exchange of fire between militants and security forces.

Then a parked car exploded near the hotel. However, al-Shabab said it had targeted security forces.

The group said five of its fighters, including the two drivers, had been "martyred" and 35 soldiers were killed in the attacks.

A police spokesman told Reuters news agency: "There were many military soldiers who guarded the street adjacent to the palace."</s>MOGADISHU: Two car bombings killed 38 people in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Friday, the city’s main ambulance service told AFP on Saturday.

“We have seen at least 38 people dead,” said Abdukadir Abdurahman Aden of the Aamin Ambulance of the bombings that targeted the presidential palace and a hotel.

The first blast, followed by gunfire, occurred at a security checkpoint close to Villa Somalia, the name for the seat of government, while a second followed soon after at a hotel, according to police.

The Shabaab Islamist militant group claimed the attacks in a statement posted online, saying it was targeting the government and security services.

The blasts follow weeks of relative calm in Mogadishu.

According to officials, the main attack involved the use of a vehicle loaded with explosives attempting to breach a checkpoint leading to the presidential palace, but security forces prevented the assault.

“The security forces foiled the intent of the terrorists. They were aiming for key targets but they could not even go closer, there were five of them killed by the security force,” said Abdulahi Ahmed, a security officer.

The Shabaab is fighting to overthrow Somalia’s internationally-backed government. In October it carried out its deadliest-ever bombing, killing over 500 people.

In the wake of that attack Somalia’s government declared a fresh offensive against the group and US drone strikes have increased in frequency.

While the militant group was pushed out of the capital in 2011 by an African Union force it continues to control large parts of the countryside and launches regular attacks on government, military and civilian targets. – AFP</s>At least 38 people were killed in two separate car-bomb attacks in Somalia’s Mogadishu on Friday, BBC reported. The first blasts occurred outside the presidential palace on Friday and the second at hotel nearby. Several people were injured in the blast. The attacks follow the government’s issuance of a terror warning a day earlier, Al Jazeera reported.

An exchange of fire followed the blast near the presidential palace. Security forces killed five militants, officials said.

The Al Qaeda linked group extremist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for both the attacks. The militant group has been targeting the country with attacks to oust the government. A gun battle followed the attack near the presidential palace in which five militants were killed, officials say.

On October 14, 2017, blasts in Mogadishu had killed at least 358 people. Al Shabaab did not claim the attacks, but are believed to be behind it.</s>Two car bombs and gunfire near the presidential palace in Mogadishu has left up to 38 people dead and 20 others wounded according to conflicting reports. Al-Shabab, an Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for Friday’s deadly attack, which appeared to be coordinated. One of the car bombs targeted the presidential palace, while a second blast took place near a popular hotel. Both cars were driven by suicide bombers, according to an Al-Shabab spokesman. Somali officials claim that five attackers were shot and killed in a subsequent firefight. The incident comes a day after the Somali government issued a “terror warning” in the capital. In October, 500 people were killed by a truck bomb in Mogadishu – one of Somali’s deadliest terror attacks.</s>The Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabaab is claiming responsibility for the twin blasts in Mogadishu that have killed at least 18 people and injured 20 others.

Al-Shabaab made the claim late on Friday via its Andalus radio arm.

The explosions shattered months of relative calm in Somalia’s capital, which is often a target of al-Shabaab.

Police say one blast occurred near Somalia’s intelligence headquarters. The second occurred near the headquarters of parliament.</s>Mogadishu (AFP) - At least 18 people were killed and 20 wounded on Friday when two car bombs exploded in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, the city's main ambulance service said.

"We have so far collected 18 bodies and 20 wounded persons from one of the blast scenes," Abdukadir Abdurahman Aden of the Aamin Ambulance told AFP.

The bombings targeted the presidential palace and a city hotel, police said.

The first blast, followed by gunfire, occurred at a checkpoint close to Villa Somalia, the name for the seat of government, while a second followed soon after at a hotel.

"I can confirm an attack in the vicinity of the presidential palace," said police officer Ibrahim Mohamed.

"Another car loaded with explosives went off close to a recently opened hotel," Mohamed added.

The Islamist militant group the Shabaab, claimed the attacks in a statement posted online, saying it was targeting the government and security services.

The blasts follow weeks of relative calm in Mogadishu.

The Shabaab is fighting to overthrow Somalia's internationally-backed government. In October it carried out its deadliest-ever bombing, killing over 500 people.

In the wake of that attack Somalia's government declared a fresh offensive against the group and US drone strikes have increased in tempo.

While the militant group was pushed out of the capital in 2011 by an African Union force it continues to control large parts of the countryside and launch regular attacks on government, military and civilian targets.</s>At least 38 people were killed on Friday in two car bomb attacks targeting the presidential palace and a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, Somali relief services told AFP on Saturday.

“We have at least 38 bodies,“said Abdukadir Abdurahman Aden, of the Amin ambulance service, which had reported the day before the first provisional death toll of 18.

The first explosion, followed by autmatic gunfire, struck a checkpoint near Villa Somalia, the seat of government, while shortly after a second explosion targeted a nearby hotel, the Doorbin.

“I can confirm that there was an attack near the presidential palace,“said Somali police officer Ibrahim Mohamed. “Another car loaded with explosives detonated near a recently opened hotel.”

According to a security officer, Abdulahi Ahmed, five of the assailants were killed by law enforcement and “the situation has returned to normal.

The Somali Shebab jihadist group, affiliated with Al Qaeda, claimed the attacks in a press release published on the Internet, claiming that they targeted the government and security services.

Since 2007, the Shebab have been trying to overthrow the fragile central Somali government, supported by the international community and the more than 20,000 African Union troops from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Chased from Mogadishu in August 2011, the Shebab then lost most of their strongholds. But they still control vast rural areas from which they carry out guerrilla operations and suicide bombings, including in the capital Mogadishu, and against military bases, Somali or foreign.

Even if they did not claim it, they were blamed for the 14 October truck bombing in central Mogadishu, the deadliest in Somalia’s history, which killed at least 512 people.</s>Mogadishu: At least 18 people have been killed and 20 others injured in twin bomb attacks in Somali capital Mogadishu, officials said. Aamin Ambulance Director Abdukadir Abdirahman said 18 people died in Friday’s twin bombings, one of which targetted the presidential palace, Xinhua news agency reported.

“I can confirm to you that we have recorded 18 bodies. Another 20 were injured and we have transported them to various hospitals in the city,” Abdirahman said. Somali security forces managed to thwart an attack at the presidential palace, repulsing militants pushing to enter the compound. A vehicle loaded with explosives exploded near Villa Somalia as security forces pursued it.

Earlier, police told Xinhua security forces manning Villa Somalia repulsed militants who were trying to storm into the palace, killing three of them. “They tried to storm into Villa Somalia but our forces fought them back. The forces were pursuing the vehicle as it headed towards the palace but exploded before reaching the target,” police officer Ahmed Abdulle told Xinhua.

The first explosion went off at around 6 p.m. on Friday, when a vehicle loaded with explosives hit the newly opened Dorbin hotel, near the intelligence headquarters. A second explosion went off shortly after near Villa Somalia. Witnesses recounted of the turn of the events.

“We heard a huge explosion followed by a lot of gunfire near the parliament building. We were told Sayidka hotel was being attacked,” Yasmin Mohamed said. Militant group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, which came barely a day after Security Minister Mohamed Islow warned of a minivan loaded with explosives in Mogadishu. Security forces have in the past week cordoned off roads and launched major security operations in the city amid reports of an impending attack.</s>MOGADISHU: Twin car bombs exploded in Somalia`s capital on Friday, killing 18 people and wounding 20 others, the city`s ambulance service said, and Islamist militant group al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Shooting broke out near the president`s residence at the time of the blasts, police and ambulance services said.

"So far we carried 18 dead people and 20 others injured from the blasts tonight," Abdikadir Abdirahman, the director of Amin ambulances, told Reuters.

A big cloud of smoke rose near the palace and gunfire erupted near the president`s residence, a Reuters witness said.

Police and witnesses said the second blast was a car bomb parked in front of a hotel away from the palace.

Police said the first car bomb went off after suspected militants breached a checkpoint near the president`s residence by shooting at security personnel at the checkpoint.

"The militants got off when they neared the palace, the suicide car bomb exploded outside the palace where there were many military soldiers who guarded the street adjacent to the palace," Major Omar Abdullahi told Reuters.

Al Shabaab, who have claimed responsibility for previous bombings and gun attacks in the capital, said they killed 15 soldiers in Friday`s attack.

"Two operations including two car bomb martyrdoms went on around the presidential palace and a national security forces’ base called Habar Kadija," al Shabaab`s military spokesman, Abdiasis Abu Musab, told Reuters.

The group, which is linked to al Qaeda, wants to overthrow the Somali government and impose its own harsh interpretation of Islamic law. It has killed hundreds of civilians across East Africa and thousands of Somalis in a decade-long insurgency.

The streets around the palace and near the new hotel were surrounded by security forces who denied access to ambulances and reporters, witnesses said.

In October, more than 500 people were killed in twin bomb blasts in Mogadishu. The bomb attacks were the deadliest since al Shabaab began an insurgency in 2007. Al Shabaab did not claim responsibility for that incident.</s>MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Twin car bombs killed 18 people in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Friday in an attack by the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, but security forces shot dead five assailants, officials said.

Shooting broke out near the president’s residence at the time of the explosions, police and ambulance services said.

“So far we carried 18 dead people and 20 others injured from the blasts tonight,” Abdikadir Abdirahman, the director of Amin Ambulances, told Reuters.

Police said the first car bomb went off after militants breached a checkpoint near the president’s residence by shooting at security personnel. The second blast was a car bomb parked in front of a hotel away from the palace.

“The militants got off when they neared the palace, the suicide car bomb exploded outside the palace where there were many military soldiers who guarded the street adjacent to the palace,” Major Omar Abdullahi told Reuters.

Al Shabaab, who have claimed responsibility for previous bombings and gun attacks in the capital, said they killed 15 soldiers in Friday’s attack, but this could not be confirmed.

“Two operations including two car bomb martyrdoms went on around the presidential palace and a national security forces’ base called Habar Kadija,” al Shabaab military spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab said.

The group, which is linked to al Qaeda, wants to overthrow the Somali government and impose its own harsh interpretation of Islamic law. It has killed hundreds of civilians across East Africa and thousands of Somalis in a decade-long insurgency.

Security Minister Mohamed Abukar Islow said the security forces had subdued the al Shabaab attackers and killed five of them.

“The security minister confirmed the operation was concluded and that the five militants who launched the attack were shot dead,” the state news aganey quoted him as saying.

Al Shabaab’s Abu Musab said their fighters were yet to be subdued.

The streets around the palace and the hotel were surrounded by security forces, witnesses said.

In October, more than 500 people were killed in twin bomb blasts in Mogadishu. The bomb attacks were the deadliest since al Shabaab began an insurgency in 2007. Al Shabaab did not claim responsibility for that incident.
Two car bombings near the presidential palace in Mogadishu, Somalia, kill at least 38 people. Al-Shabaab claim responsibility for the attacks.