Car bomb outside Somali President's Palace kills at least 10

By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar

MOGADISHU, Aug 30 (Reuters) - At least 10 people, including soldiers and civilians, were killed in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Tuesday when a car bomb claimed by al Shabaab exploded outside the Presidential Palace and also damaged two nearby hotels, an official said.

Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir told state radio that a meeting of security officials was under way inside one of the hotels, the SYL, at the time of blast and that one minister and some state radio journalists were injured in the attack.

The hotel is frequented by government officials and police said it believed the facility was the likely target.

The SYL and another hospitality facility, both located near the Presidential Palace, were partially destroyed by the blast, Major Mohamed Ali, a police officer, told Reuters.

"The blast killed 10 (people) including soldiers and civilians and 30 others were wounded," Ali said.

Gunfire could be heard after the blast and a huge cloud of smoke rose above the palace, outside which were the remnants of the car and splattered blood, according to a Reuters witness.

Al Shabaab's Radio Andaluz said the Islamist group was behind the attack and their military operations spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, said the attack had killed 15 soldiers and "injured many others including a lawmaker".

Seeking to impose its own harsh form of Islam, al Shabaab, wants to topple the Western backed government in Mogadishu and also push out the 22,000-strong African Union mandated AMISOM peace keeping force backing it.

The group was pushed out of Mogadishu by AMISOM in 2011 but have remained a serious threat, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the government.

The militants have claimed responsibility for several explosions in Mogadishu, including a car bomb and gun attack last week at a popular beach restaurant in the capital that killed 10 people.

In a separate incident, al Shabaab fighters attacked military bases housing government and African Union troops south west of the capital Mogadishu late on Monday, police and the group said on Tuesday.

Military officer Major Bile Farah said a soldier and two al Shabaab fighters were killed in the attack in K-50 and Muri in Lower Shabelle region.</s>Ten people were killed and a government minister was injured when the Islamist terror group al-Shabaab set off a truck bomb outside the Presidential Palace in Somalia's chaotic capital Mogadishu today.

Politicians and soldiers were among the casualties and two nearby hotels were also damaged.

Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir told state radio security officials had been meeting inside one of the hotels, the Somali Youth League (SYL), at the time of the blast and one minister was injured in the attack.

Colonel Ali Nur said: 'Security forces tried to stop the bomber who used back roads before he sped through checkpoints near the presidential palace and detonated the bomb. He reached near the gate of the state house with flat tyres.'

Major Mohamed Ali said the SYL and another hotel were badly damaged by the blast.

He said: 'The blast killed 10, including soldiers and civilians and 30 others were wounded.'

Gunfire could be heard after the blast and a huge cloud of smoke rose above the palace.

Al-Shabaab's Radio Andaluz said the Islamist group was behind the attack and their military operations spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, claimed the attack had killed 15 soldiers and 'injured many others including a lawmaker'.

The organisation, which has links to al-Qaeda, wants to topple the Western-backed government in Mogadishu and expel the 22,000-strong African Union AMISOM peace keeping force.

Al-Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu by AMISOM in 2011 but have remained a serious threat, launching frequent bomb and gun attacks.

The militants have claimed responsibility for several explosions in Mogadishu, including a car bomb and gun attack last week at a popular beach restaurant in the capital that killed 10 people.

In a separate incident al-Shabaab fighters attacked military bases south west of the capital late last night.

Military officer Major Bile Farah said a soldier and two al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the attack in Muri in Lower Shabelle region.</s>MOGADISHU, Aug 30 (Reuters) - A car bomb claimed by al Shabaab Islamist militants killed five soldiers outside the president's palace in the Somali capital of Mogadishu and badly damaged two nearby hotels, police said.

Reuters witnesses said gunfire could be heard after the explosion and a huge cloud of smoke could be seen above the president's palace, outside which were the remnants of the car and splattered blood.

"A suicide car bomb exploded outside the presidential palace. So far two hotels opposite the palace are partially destroyed," police officer Major Mohamed Ali told Reuters by phone.

Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for several recent explosions in Mogadishu, including a car bomb and gun attack last week at a popular beach restaurant in the capital that killed 10 people.

"So far we know five government soldiers died in the blast. It exploded outside the SYL hotel which is also just at the checkpoint outside the palace. We believe the target was SYL which is frequented by officials. The death toll may rise," police officer Colonel Abdikadir Hussein told Reuters.

Al Shabaab's Radio Andaluz said that the group was behind the attack.

In a separate incident, al Shabaab fighters attacked military bases housing government and African Union troops south west of the capital Mogadishu late on Monday, police and the group said on Tuesday.

Military officer Major Bile Farah said a soldier and two al Shabaab fighters were killed in the attack in K-50 and Muri in Lower Shabelle region,

Al Shabaab's military operations spokesman, Abdiasis Abu Musab, said the group's fighters had killed 10 soldiers and commandeered a vehicle from the Somali government soldiers.

The militants were pushed out of Mogadishu by the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM in 2011 but have remained a serious threat, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the government.

Seeking to impose its own harsh form of Islam, al Shabaab has also launched attacks in Kenya and Uganda which have contributed troops to the 22,000-strong AMISOM force. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar; Writing by George Obulutsa)</s>Death toll from Shabaab attack on Mogadishu hotels rises to 22 - police

MOGADISHU, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The death toll from Tuesday's car bomb attack targeting two hotels popular with officials near the presidential palace in the Somali capital Mogadishu has risen to 22, police said on Wednesday.

The attack was claimed by the Islamist militant group al Shabaab. The blast partially destroyed two hotels, including one in which a meeting of security officials was underway, the government has said.

"We have confirmed from various hospitals that at least 22 died and 50 others were wounded," police officer Major Mohamed Abdullahi told Reuters.

Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir said on Tuesday a security officials were gathered inside one of the hotels, the SYL, at the time of blast, and that one minister and some state radio journalists were wounded.

The hotel is frequented by government officials and police said it believed the facility was the likely target.

Seeking to impose its own harsh form of Islam, al Shabaab, wants to topple the Western-backed government in Mogadishu and also push out the 22,000-strong African Union mandated AMISOM peace keeping force backing it.

The group was forced out of Mogadishu by AMISOM in 2011 but have remained a serious threat, launching frequent attacks aimed at the government.

The militants have claimed responsibility for several explosions in Mogadishu, including a car bomb and gun attack last week at a popular beach restaurant in the capital that killed 10 people. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)</s>Five dead in Shabaab suicide car bomb at Somalia hotel

At least five people were killed and 28 injured when jihadists exploded a suicide car bomb outside a popular hotel close to the presidential palace in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Tuesday.

"We have confirmed five people killed including security guards", police officer Mohamed Abdulkadir said.

He said the vehicle rammed through a checkpoint and was fired on by security forces before it exploded outside the SYL hotel.

The hotel is situated close to the main entrance to the Villa Somalia government complex that includes the presidential palace, ministry buildings and residences.

"The blast was very huge but thanks to God the number of casualties is less than the devastation suggests," Abdulkadir said.

"We have received 28 people who were wounded in the blast," said Mohamed Yusuf, director of the city's main Medina hospital.

A witness described seeing a large blast and a thick plume of smoke that rose high into the air.

"I saw a car speeding towards the area and huge smoke and fire went up in the sky," said Elmi Ahmed.

An AFP journalist at the scene described widespread damage to buildings in the area. The blast left a crater in the road, nearby walls collapsed and debris scattered across the usually busy carriageway.

The Al-Qaeda aligned Shabaab jihadist group said it was responsible for the attack, saying the SYL hotel was targeted because it "is close to the presidential palace, and also home to apostates and unbelievers."

The group claimed to have killed 30 in the "martyrdom operation" and said a number of ministers and MPs were injured.

The claim could not immediately be verified but the Shabaab frequently exaggerates the impact of its attacks.

The fortified hotel, popular with government officials, business people and visiting diplomats and delegations, was previously attacked in both February this year and January last year.

The January 2015 attack killed at least five people when a suicide car bomber rammed the hotel gates on the eve of a visit by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In February this year 14 people were killed when twin blasts were triggered close to the hotel and the neighbouring Peace Garden on a busy Friday afternoon.

Both previous attacks were also claimed by the Shabaab, which quit the capital five years ago but continues to launch attacks against government, military, civilian and foreign targets in its fight to overthrow the internationally-backed government.

The group is expected to try and violently disrupt elections due to be held in September and October.

The jihadists have also staged repeated attacks in neighbouring Kenya and a recent security analysis warned the group was expanding its horizons with cells active in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda as well as Somalia.</s>A car bomb claimed by al Shabaab Islamist terrorists killed at least 10 people, including soldiers and civilians, outside the president’s palace in the Somali capital of Mogadishu and badly damaged two nearby hotels, police said.

Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir told state radio that a meeting of security officials was under way inside one of the hotels, the SYL, at the time of blast and that one minister and some state radio journalists were injured in the attack.

The SYL and another hospitality facility, both located near the Presidential Palace, were partially destroyed by the blast, Major Mohamed Ali, a police officer, told Reuters.

“The blast killed 10 (people) including soldiers and civilians and 30 others were wounded,” Ali said.

Witnesses told Reuters that gunfire could be heard after the explosion and that a huge cloud of smoke could be seen above the president’s palace, outside of which were the remnants of the car and splattered blood.

“A suicide car bomb exploded outside the presidential palace. So far two hotels opposite the palace are partially destroyed,” police officer Major Mohamed Ali told Reuters by phone.

The al-Qaida-linked al Shabaab group has claimed responsibility for several recent explosions in Mogadishu, including a car bomb and gun attack last week that killed 10 people at a popular beach restaurant in the capital.

Al Shabaab’s Radio Andaluz said that the group was behind the attack.

In a separate incident, al Shabaab terrorists attacked military bases housing government and African Union troops southwest of the capital late on Monday, police and the group said on Tuesday. Military officer Major Bile Farah said a soldier and two al Shabaab terrorists were killed in the attack at K-50 in the Lower Shabelle region.

Al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, Abdiasis Abu Musab, said the group’s terrorists had killed 10 soldiers and commandeered a vehicle from the Somali government soldiers.

The terrorists were pushed out of Mogadishu by the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM in 2011 but have remained a serious threat, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the government.

Seeking to impose its own harsh form of Islam, al Shabaab has also launched attacks in Kenya and Uganda which have contributed troops to the 22,000-strong AMISOM force.</s>At least 10 people, including soldiers and civilians, were killed in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu yesterday when a car bomb claimed by al Shabaab exploded outside the presidential palace and also damaged two nearby hotels, an official said.

Information minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir told state radio that a meeting of security officials was under way inside one of the hotels, the SYL, at the time of blast and that one minister and some state radio journalists were injured in the attack.

The hotel is frequented by government officials and police said it believed the facility was the likely target.

The SYL and another hospitality facility, both located near the presidential palace, were partially destroyed by the blast, a police officer, told Reuters.

“The blast killed 10 (people) including soldiers and civilians and 30 others were wounded,” Ali said.Gunfire could be heard after the blast and a huge cloud of smoke rose above the palace, outside which were the remnants of the car and splattered blood, according to a Reuters witness.

Al Shabaab’s Radio Andaluz said the Islamist group was behind the attack and their military operations spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, said the attack had killed 15 soldiers and “injured many others including a lawmaker”.

Seeking to impose its own harsh form of Islam, al Shabaab, wants to topple the Western backed government in Mogadishu and also push out the 22,000-strong African Union mandated AMISOM peace keeping force backing it.

The group was pushed out of Mogadishu by AMISOM in 2011 but have remained a serious threat, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the government.

The militants have claimed responsibility for several explosions in Mogadishu, including a car bomb and gun attack last week at a popular beach restaurant in the capital that killed 10 people.</s>Death toll from Somalia car bomb attack on Tuesday rises to 22 -police

MOGADISHU, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The death toll from a car bomb blast in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Tuesday that exploded outside the Presidential Palace has risen to 22, police said on Wednesday.

"We have confirmed from various hospitals that at least 22 died and 50 others were wounded. Death includes wounded people who died in hospitals," police officer Major Mohamed Abdullahi told Reuters.

The attack has been claimed by al Shabaab militants. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Louise Ireland)</s>Mogadishu (AFP) - A suicide car bomb exploded outside a popular hotel close to the presidential palace in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, in an attack claimed by Shabaab militants.

"There was a blast close to the SYL hotel area, near the main checkpoint of the presidential palace," said security officer Ibrahim Mohamed.</s>A suicide bomber has detonated a car bomb outside a popular Mogadishu hotel. Several soldiers were killed in the blast near the presidential compound. It is the third attack on the same hotel in less than three years.

The bomb exploded during a traffic jam on Tuesday, police captain Mohamed Hussein said. Officials believe the militants targeted the SYL hotel which frequented by government officials.

The hotel is close to the main checkpoint which protects the entrance to the presidential compound.

“So far we know five government soldiers died in the blast,” police officer Colonel Abdikadir Hussein told Reuters. “The death toll may rise.”

Another nearby hotel was damaged when the car bomb exploded, officials said.

“I saw a car speeding towards the area and huge smoke and fire went up in the sky,” witness Elmi Ahmed told the AFP news agency.

The explosion could be heard across the Somali capital, with witnesses from the scene reporting sporadic gunfire after the incident.

The al-Shabab terror group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack via radio Andalus, which is linked to the organization. They said they targeted the SYL hotel because it “is close to the presidential palace, and also home to apostates and unbelievers.”

The latest suicide bombing is the third attack on the same hotel in less than three years. The previous two attacks killed a total of 19 people.

The hotel was popular with government officials, business people and visiting diplomats and delegations. It was previously attacked in February this year and January last year.
A car bomb explodes outside the President of Somalia's compound in Mogadishu claiming at least ten people's lives. Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.