A massive car bomb exploded on Saturday evening near Somalia’s parliament in the capital of Mogadishu.
The loud blast, which targeted Somali security forces checkpoint in Mogadishu Sayidka junction, was claimed by the armed group al-Shabab.
It was unclear whether there were any casualties, but a police official said it was likely a suicide attack.
“A car bomb exploded near the area of the parliament house,” Colonel Abdiqadir Hussein told Reuters news agency.
“We suspect it is a suicide car bomb.”
The targeted troops include Police, security forces and African Union military those arranging and organizing the way to caver stability for night in Mogadishu capital.
Al-Shabab was pushed out of Mogadishu by the African Union peacekeeping force AMISOM in 2011 but has remained a potent threat in Somalia, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the Western-backed government.