Al-Shabab claims responsibility for Airbus 321 attack

Somalia’s Islamist militant group al-Shabab says it was behind the bomb attack on a plane that blew a huge hole in its fuselage earlier this month.

In a statement, the group said said the attack was revenge for Western intelligence operations in Somalia.

The 74-passenger Daallo Airlines Airbus 321 made an emergency landing in the capital Mogadishu after the explosion, which happened 15 minutes after take-off.

One person, said to be the bomber, was reportedly blown out of the plane, officials suggested.

Most of the passengers had originally been booked on a Turkish Airlines flight but had to jump on board the airbus after the former was cancelled.

A video released by Somali authorities show a passenger being given a laptop that they believe contained the bomb.

More than 20 people have been arrested in connection with the incident, the Somalian authorities say.