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| Somalia attack: Twin car bombs explode by Mogadishu airport | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| At least 13 people have been killed in two car bomb attacks near an entrance to the airport in Mogadishu, Somali police say. | |
| Thick smoke could be seen rising from the area, where there is also a base for African Union (AU) peacekeepers. | Thick smoke could be seen rising from the area, where there is also a base for African Union (AU) peacekeepers. |
| Local journalists said one of the bombs was detonated by a suicide attacker near a checkpoint. Another blast hit the airport's perimeter wall. | Local journalists said one of the bombs was detonated by a suicide attacker near a checkpoint. Another blast hit the airport's perimeter wall. |
| Those killed were believed to include security guards at the checkpoint. | Those killed were believed to include security guards at the checkpoint. |
| The militant Islamist group, al-Shabab, has said it was behind the blasts and its target was the AU force's headquarters. | The militant Islamist group, al-Shabab, has said it was behind the blasts and its target was the AU force's headquarters. |
| The AU mission in Somalia condemned "these senseless attacks that aim to disrupt and cripple the lives of ordinary Somalis". | The AU mission in Somalia condemned "these senseless attacks that aim to disrupt and cripple the lives of ordinary Somalis". |
| Al-Shabab has carried out frequent attacks in Somalia, including in Mogadishu, in an attempt to oust the UN-backed government. | Al-Shabab has carried out frequent attacks in Somalia, including in Mogadishu, in an attempt to oust the UN-backed government. |
| The group, which is allied to al-Qaeda, has been pushed out of most of the main towns it once controlled, but analysts say it remains a potent threat. | The group, which is allied to al-Qaeda, has been pushed out of most of the main towns it once controlled, but analysts say it remains a potent threat. |
| It has been increasing its attacks ahead of planned elections in Somalia. | It has been increasing its attacks ahead of planned elections in Somalia. |
| Hotels have been attacked by car bombs and then armed assault teams over the past few weeks. | Hotels have been attacked by car bombs and then armed assault teams over the past few weeks. |
| The large airport area in Mogadishu is a secure "green zone" for UN operations, the AU peacekeeping force and foreign embassies. | The large airport area in Mogadishu is a secure "green zone" for UN operations, the AU peacekeeping force and foreign embassies. |
| The Somali government, with the help of AU forces, is fighting al-Shabab militants in several parts of the country. | The Somali government, with the help of AU forces, is fighting al-Shabab militants in several parts of the country. |