A car blast killed eight people near a checkpoint next to the Somali presidential palace on Saturday, police said.
Al Shabaab, a jihadist group, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
“We have been confirmed that eight people, mostly civilians, have been killed and seven more injured in the minesweeper,” District Police Chief Mukavie Ahmed Mudey told reporters.
The explosion took place one kilometer from Villa Somalia, the presidential palace.
The bomb was detonated when police stopped the car for a security check.
In a brief statement, Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the explosion.
“Mujahideen carried out this bloodshed operation, attacking the main checkpoint of the presidential palace. At the time of the attack, there were apostate commanders and officials in the area. “
The jihadist group controlled the capital until 2011, when it was driven out by African Union troops, but it still controls the area in rural areas and often launches attacks on government and civilian targets in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the country.
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