MOGADISHU. — At least six people were killed yesterday in a suicide car bomb attack targeting a United Nations convoy close to Mogadishu’s heavily-fortified international airport, officials said. Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shebaab rebels, who are fighting to overthrow the country’s internationally-backed government, told AFP that one of their suicide bombers carried out the attack.

The bomb went off near a checkpoint at the entrance to the airport complex, which also houses the base of AMISOM — the African Union force fighting Shebab rebels — as well as a number of foreign diplomatic missions and United Nations offices.

A statement from UNSOM, the UN mission in Somalia, said the bomb went off near a convoy of UN vehicles shortly after midday.
“A UN car was damaged but no UN staff were injured. Four Somali security escorts were lightly injured,” UNSOM said, expressing “deep sorrow at the reported deaths and injuries of Somali bystanders.”

Police and witnesses said the victims included Somali guards, passers-by and shop owners.
“At least six people, most of them civilians, died in the car bomb explosion. There are many casualties, serious injuries. We are still investigating the incident, the toll could rise,” a Somali police official, Said Mohamed, told AFP.

An Al-Shebaab spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack.
“This was an operation carried out by Shebab. It was a brother who took a sacrificial act to defend the people of Somalia,” Shebab military spokesman Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab told AFP.

“The target was a UN convoy,” he said, claiming “several invaders” were also killed.
Meanwhile, the chief of the AU Mission in Somalia Mahamat Saleh Annadif strongly deplored the deadly car bomb attack.
“I send my heartfelt condolence to the bereaved friends and families and join the Somali people in unequivocally condemning this craven attack which is a classical display of Al Shabaab’s faltering capabilities,” said Annadif.

The AMISOM chief called on Somalis to join hands with the security forces in countering Al Shabaab’s activities. — AFP/Xinhua.

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