According to reports, a car bomb went off on in Mogadishu near the president’s residence.
Witnesses report hearing gunfire and seeing plumes of smoke rising above the city.
A suicide car bomb exploded near the Somali president’s residence in Mogadishu, causing a huge blast and destroying nearby hotels, according to police.
A Reuters witness and social media users said they heard the loud explosion in Somalia’s capital on Tuesday. The Reuters witness also heard gunfire.
“There was a blast close to the SYL hotel area, near the main checkpoint of the presidential palace,” said security officer Ibrahim Mohamed.
Images posted to social media showed huge plumes of smoke rising above the city.
Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab fighters have claimed responsibility for several recent explosions in Mogadishu, including a car bomb and gun attack last week at a popular beach restaurant that killed 10 people.
#BREAKING Powerfull explosion rocked in Mogadishu on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/UyPQTTc9ZZ
— Somalia Live Update (@HassanIstiila) August 30, 2016
#Somalia part of the SYL hotel and nearby buildings affected due to the heavy truck explosion. pic.twitter.com/0s6kh2r8oJ
— Radio Dalsan (@DalsanFM) August 30, 2016
#Somalia BREAKING Suicide car bomb intended for SYL hotel denotes near the gate, civilians and soldiers wounded. pic.twitter.com/r7e9eNFWYY
— Radio Dalsan (@DalsanFM) August 30, 2016
Sorry to hear that several journalists are among the injuries people in the huge blast targeted to SYL hotel of #Mogadishu #Somalia
— Mohamed Moalimuu (@MOALIMUU) August 30, 2016
PHOTO: The blast rocked a block b/w SYL hotel & #Somali presidential palace, destroying parts of the hotel. 5 dead. pic.twitter.com/RfMcGk5f2l
— Omar Nor (@Omaar_nor) August 30, 2016
