Two car bombs exploded in the Somali capital on Friday wounding at least 15 people and shooting also broke out near the president’s residence, police and ambulance services said.
It was not immediately clear who carried out the attacks. Insurgents from al Shabaab, a group linked to al Qaeda, have claimed responsibility for previous bombings and gun attacks in the capital.
A huge cloud of smoke rose into the sky near the palace and gunfire continued near the president’s residence, a Reuters witness said.
Police and witnesses said the second blast was a car bomb parked in front of a hotel away from the palace. It caused no casualties.
Police said the first car bomb went off after suspected militants breached a checkpoint near the president’s residence by shooting at security personnel at the checkpoint.
“The militants got off when they neared the palace, the suicide car bomb exploded outside the palace where there were many military soldiers who guarded the street adjacent to the palace,” Major Omar Abdullahi told Reuters.
“The second blast was a car bomb parked in front of a new hotel a bit far from the palace. The damage was little here and so far no casualty were found,” he said.
The streets around the palace and near the new hotel were surrounded by security forces who denied access to ambulances and reporters.