By Mohammed Dhaysane
Sunday February 14, 2021
Al-Shabaab militant group claims responsibility for attack
A man helps a civilian who was wounded in a bombing, outside a hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. Police say a suicide bomber died and a number of civilians were wounded when a vehicle exploded near a checkpoint outside the presidential palace in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
MOGADISHU, Somalia—At least two civilians were killed and eleven others wounded when a suicide car bombing targeted a security checkpoint near the Somali parliament headquarters in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday, according to paramedic sources.Aamin Ambulance, Mogadishu's largest ambulance service, confirmed the casualties.
"The death toll from today's explosion in Mogadishu has risen to two and 11 people were wounded," Aamin Ambulance said in a statement.Somali police spokesman Sadaq Adan Ali told Anadolu Agency over the phone that some of the wounded were in critical condition.
"A suicide bomber driving a Toyota Noah drove past a security checkpoint in the Dabka area, forcing police to open fire," Somali police said in an earlier statement.
The attack targeted a security checkpoint near the Sayidka junction in Mogadishu's busiest Makka al-Mukarama road.
The Sayidka junction is located steps away from the Somali parliament headquarters and close to the presidential palace in Mogadishu.
Somali-based al-Qaeda-affiliated group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.