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| Mogadishu airport blast: Explosion and heavy gunfire heard in Somalia's capital | Mogadishu airport blast: Explosion and heavy gunfire heard in Somalia's capital |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at a security checkpoint near Mogadishu's international airport, killing at least three people. | A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at a security checkpoint near Mogadishu's international airport, killing at least three people. |
| Captain Mohamed Hussein says the car bomber detonated the bomb as security forces were searching cars at the checkpoint, a few hundred metres from the main base of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping headquarters. | Captain Mohamed Hussein says the car bomber detonated the bomb as security forces were searching cars at the checkpoint, a few hundred metres from the main base of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping headquarters. |
| So far we know three of the security forces died. We believe al Shabaab is behind the attack," Mohamed Ahmed, a police officer, told Reuters. | |
| He said the death toll was likely to go up because the bomb was powerful. The powerful blast blew roofs and doors off nearby buildings. | |
| A Reuters photographer at the scene saw the burnt-out shell of the bomber's car and another vehicle nearby on fire. | |
| The checkpoint is close to United Nations offices and the Peace Hotel, which is often frequented by foreigners and officials. | The checkpoint is close to United Nations offices and the Peace Hotel, which is often frequented by foreigners and officials. |
| A second blast and heavy gunfire could also be heard at the checkpoint after the attack, but there were no immediate details. | A second blast and heavy gunfire could also be heard at the checkpoint after the attack, but there were no immediate details. |
| There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. However, the al-Qaida linked Islamic extremist group al-Shabab often carries out such attacks. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. However, the al-Qaida linked Islamic extremist group al-Shabab often carries out such attacks. |
| Despite being ousted from most of its key strongholds across large parts of south and central Somalia, the group continues to wage deadly attack across the country. | Despite being ousted from most of its key strongholds across large parts of south and central Somalia, the group continues to wage deadly attack across the country. |
| Somalia's capital has seen frequent bomb attacks at hotels and military checkpoints. The assaults have threatened this Horn of Africa nation's attempts to rebuild from decades of chaos. | Somalia's capital has seen frequent bomb attacks at hotels and military checkpoints. The assaults have threatened this Horn of Africa nation's attempts to rebuild from decades of chaos. |
| The country's presidential election, a key step toward recovery, already has been delayed multiple times because of security and other concerns. | The country's presidential election, a key step toward recovery, already has been delayed multiple times because of security and other concerns. |
| In July at least 13 people died in two car bomb attacks near an entrance to the airport. | In July at least 13 people died in two car bomb attacks near an entrance to the airport. |
| Agencies contributed to this report |