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Feedback 0 / 5</s>Somali soldiers and a boy stand near the wreckage of a three-wheeled motorcycle taxi at the scene of a car bomb explosion near the parliament building in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia (AP)

MOGADISHU: At least four people were killed Sunday in a suicide car bomb attack in central Mogadishu, police and witnesses said.

"There was a blast at a checkpoint close to the interior ministry. Four people were killed including two members of the security forces," Abdulahi Mohamed, a police officer in the capital, told AFP. The other two victims were civilians.

"We don’t have the details yet but the indications show that a bomber was involved trying to pass by the security checkpoint," he added.

IN PICS: Somalia explosion: Deadly car bomb kills four in capital Mogadishu

According to the official and witnesses, the car blew up before the security forces were able to inspect it.

"I saw the bodies of two soldiers and two civilians," eyewitness Cise Abdurahman said.

"The explosion was significant and the car was reduced to pieces. It exploded between two concrete barriers" at the checkpoint, he added.

It was the second car bomb attack this week in the Somali capital after one blew up Thursday outside a popular hotel, killing 14 people.

Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shabaab jihadists has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

Mogadishu is regularly hit by bomb attacks carried out by Shabaab which is fighting to overthrow Somalia's internationally-backed government.

In February twin car bombings left 38 people dead in the Somali capital.

In October last year, Somalia suffered its deadliest-ever attack in which more than 500 people were killed in a truck bombing in a busy part of the city.

In the wake of that attack, Somalia's government declared a fresh offensive against Shabaab.</s>MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - Somali police say at least three people are wounded after a bomb attached to their vehicle exploded near the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the capital, Mogadishu.

Officer Abdifitah Ahmed confirms that the bomb went off shortly after the three left in the vehicle from a parking lot next to the ICRC office on Wednesday.

The ICRC says it is "shocked and deeply troubled" that one of its staffers was hurt.

A Somali soldier attends the scene after a bomb attack near the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Mogadishu, Somalia Wednesday, March 28, 2018. Somali police say at least three people are wounded after the bomb which was attached to their vehicle exploded. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor)

The police officer says one victim is in critical condition while the other two are lightly wounded.

The Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, often targets high-profile areas of the capital.</s>MOGADISHU, Somalia — The International Committee of the Red Cross says one of its staff members is dead after a car bombing in Somalia’s capital.

A statement says Abdulhafid Yusuf Ibrahim, a Somali national, died Wednesday night of his injuries after the attack in Mogadishu.

Somali police said two others were wounded after the bomb attached to their vehicle exploded near the ICRC office.

The Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility. The group often targets high-profile areas of the capital.

The ICRC said it was “shocked and deeply troubled” by the attack and that another staffer was recovering with minor injuries.</s>MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali police say at least three people are wounded after a bomb attached to their vehicle exploded near the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the capital, Mogadishu.

Officer Abdifitah Ahmed confirms that the bomb went off shortly after the three left in the vehicle from a parking lot next to the ICRC office on Wednesday.

The ICRC says it is “shocked and deeply troubled” that one of its staffers was hurt.

The police officer says one victim is in critical condition while the other two are lightly wounded.

The Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, often targets high-profile areas of the capital.</s>MOGADISHU: A car bomb exploded near Somalia's parliament headquarters in the capital, Mogadishu, killing at least four people along with the driver, police said today, with several others injured.

A huge cloud of smoke could be seen billowing over the area dotted with security checkpoints erected along a road leading to the presidential palace, whose main gate is just 200 metres (yards) from the blast site. The checkpoint also is close to the interior ministry.

The car bomb was detonated at a checkpoint after soldiers intercepted and stopped a suspicious vehicle, senior police Capt Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press.

Those dead included two soldiers, he said, while many of the nearly 10 people wounded are rickshaw drivers.

A few hours earlier, another car bomb outside the capital killed one person plus the driver, police said.

Officer Mohamed Abdi told the AP that the explosion occurred after soldiers arrived at the scene to inspect the "suspicious" car which had become stuck on a sandy road in the Sinka Dheer area.

The car bombings come three days after at least 14 people were killed and 10 others wounded in a car bomb blast near the Weheliye hotel on the busy Makka Almukarramah road.

Mogadishu is often a target of attacks by the Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab, the deadliest Islamic extremist group in Africa.

A truck bombing in October killed 512 people in the country's deadliest-ever attack. Only a few attacks since 9/11 have killed more people. The Horn of Africa nation continues to struggle to counter the Islamic extremist group.

Concerns have been high over plans to hand over the country's security to Somalia's own forces as a 21,000-strong African Union force begins a withdrawal that is expected to be complete in 2020.

The US military, which has stepped up efforts against al-Shabab in the past year with dozens of drone strikes, has said Somali forces are not yet ready.</s>Somali soldiers and a boy stand near the wreckage of a three-wheeled motorcycle taxi at the scene of a car bomb explosion near the parliament building in the capital Mogadishu. | AP</s>MOGADISHU: At least 14 people died and several others were wounded Thursday when a car packed with explosives blew up in front of a popular Mogadishu hotel, a government spokesman and witnesses said.

"There was a heavy blast here and the number of casualties we have is so far 14 killed and a number of others wounded," said Abdiazis Ali Ibrahim, a spokesman for the security ministry.

"The toll could be higher," he added.

Witnesses said the explosion was caused by a car bomb on one of the capital's busiest streets that was packed with people heading home from work.

"The blast was so huge, a vehicle containing explosives went off near a teashop in front of Weheliye hotel, leaving more than 10 people dead. I saw people being rushed to hospital and some of them were already dead," said witness Abdulahi Moalim.

"Most of the casualties are... people who were spending time to take tea, there was devastation and buildings were damaged," said another witness Mohamednur Abdirahman.

Mogadishu is regularly hit by bomb attacks carried out by the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab which 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 Shabaab was pushed out of the capital in 2011 by an African Union force it still controls large parts of the countryside and launches regular attacks on government, military and civilian targets.

East African leaders contributing to the AMISOM force last month called for the United Nations to reconsider plans to withdraw troops by December 2020, saying the timeline was unrealistic and could lead to a reversal of gains.</s>RICHLAND, Wash.-- There's a new way to give to your local Red Cross chapter. You can now donate your old vehicle to the Benton-Franklin chapter of the Red Cross.

Cars, trucks, boats, mobile homes, or even motorcycles are being accepted. The Red Cross has a company that will pick up your old vehicle, auction it off, and the Red Cross will keep the money.

KNDU talked to the first person in the Tri-Cities to donate his old car. Gary Davis had an 1987 Buick Electra sitting around and said it was a great way to give back to the community. Davis says, "The Red Cross receives its funding 100% for its programs and services from the community. So, we certainly would like to see more people do this. There's a lot of vehicles sitting in people's yards."

If you want to donate your old vehicle to the Red Cross, call 1- 877- RCDONOR, or 1-877-723-6667. The Red Cross will send a truck to pick up your vehicle and title and take care of everything.</s>The Louisiana Red Cross is asking people across the Capital west area to become a hero this March to show support during Red Cross Month.

“We could not carry out our mission were it not for the power of our volunteers and the generosity of our donors,” says Merri Alessi, executive director for the Louisiana Red Cross Capital West chapter.

 

RELATED: Learn more about the American Red Cross



Wednesday, March 28 is Red Cross Giving Day, a day the Red Cross is asking everyone to support people impacted by disasters. They say your donation can help provide hope and urgent relief such as food, blankets and other essentials to people who need it most.

Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising campaign supporting the work of the Red Cross, helping people across the country in need of emergency assistance. You can donate online or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10.

“Everyone has the power to support the life-saving services we provide to our neighbors during their time of need: be it through volunteering, learning CPR and first aid, or making a financial donation to support our mission. This Red Cross Giving Day, we celebrate all of those who help make a difference in the lives of others through the Red Cross,” said Alessi.

March was first proclaimed Red Cross Month in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to raise awareness of the organization and its humanitarian mission. President Roosevelet’s last radio talk to the nation on March 20, 1945 was in support of the Red Cross War Fund. He died 23 days later, on April 12, 1945.
A car bomb near an International Committee of the Red Cross office wounds three people in Mogadishu, Somalia.