Somali soldiers walk near the wreckage of a car bomb attack in Mogadishu, Somalia Friday, March 24, 2017. A police official says the car bomb exploded near a restaurant and hotel in Somalia's capital killing at least one person and wounding others. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
Republished March 24, 2017 - 6:25 AM
Original Publication Date March 24, 2017 - 4:30 AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia - A police official says a car bomb blast near a restaurant and hotel in Somalia's capital has killed at least one person and wounded two others.
Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the car bomb detonated in the middle of a road near the presidential palace.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but homegrown extremist group al-Shabab often claims deadly attacks in Mogadishu.
Another car bomb exploded Tuesday at a military checkpoint near the presidential palace, killing at least six people. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility.
The extremist group has denounced Somalia's new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed as an "apostate" and warned Somalis against supporting him. Al-Shabab was kicked out of Mogadishu under Mohamed's brief term as prime minister in 2010-2011.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017