Four people injured in blast claimed by Al Shabaab

[Deeq A.]

MOGADISHU, Somalia (Caasimada Online) – A roadside bomb explosion targeting government soldiers on board, has left at least 4 people wounded in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.

The explosion went off in the city’s Hodan area, targeting a vehicle carrying government soldiers, a witness, who asked to be anonymous, said.

He says the blast injured 4 civilian people on board while passing through Taleh area in the capital.

The victims were taken into Madina hospital for medical treatment.

The bomb explosion was immediately claimed by Al Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab.

The group says it had targeted senior government officials on board in Somali capital Mogadishu.

There was no comment from security officials over the claims.

Al-Shabab has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for more than 10 years.

A 22,000-strong African Union force is in the country to help the government in fighting against the al-Qaeda-linked militants.

The group has been driven out of many urban areas since 2011, however, it still controls territory in rural areas and carries out gun attacks and bombings on military and civilian targets.

Somalia has been gripped by violence and lawlessness since the toppling of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in the early 1990s.

Caasimada Online

Mogadishu News Desk

Caasimada@live.com