(ANSA) - MOGADISCIO, 10 JUL - The Islamist group Al-Shabaablegato al-Qaeda, which for years has been fighting to overthrow the federal government of Somalia and which has already carried out a series of attacks, has claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack launched this morning against the police , causing at least 5 deaths and a dozen injuries, including among passers-by.
The attacker, using a vehicle loaded with explosives, hit the car convoy of Benadir police commissioner Farhan Mohamud at a traffic junction in the capital. The explosion was very strong, which destroyed structures and vehicles.
Five people died and nine others were injured, but the police commander, alleged target of the attack, survived.
The attack "caused enormous devastation and casualties for both police and civilians," a witness said.
"The whole area is shrouded in smoke because the explosion caused a fire and I saw several corpses, most of them civilians," said another witness, Osman Adan.
The jihadist group has been fighting to overthrow the federal government since 2007 and launches frequent attacks on government and civilian targets. The Al-Shabaabs had controlled the capital until 2011, when they were driven out by African Union troops, but they still control territory in the countryside. (HANDLE).