Mogadishu car bomb kills five at local government HQ

A car bomb at local government headquarters in Mogadishu on Monday killed five people and wounded five in an attack claimed by Somali Islamist group al Shabaab.

A police spokesperson said a suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into the entrance of the headquarters.

The blast, which other reports suggested may have been detonated remotely, destroyed part of a guardroom.

Regional official, Abdifatah Omar Halane said a restaurant had been the main target.

“Five people were killed and seven others wounded when a car bomb exploded in front of al-Hinda restaurant and it seems the reason behind this was to target civilians in that bar,” he said.

Al Shabaab has frequently attacked government offices, hotels and restaurants in the capital since being pushed out by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011.