Scores killed and injured in Somalia blast

At least nine people were killed and a dozen others were injured in two separate bomb attacks in the Somali capital Mogadishu today, police officials said.

#BREAKING Powerful explosion rocked in Mogadishu. #Somalia pic.twitter.com/a8fi5mAaxO

— Somalia Live Update (@HassanIstiila) March 13, 2017

In the first attack, two people were killed and four others were injured when a suicide car bomb exploded a few metres away from a Somali army training centre in the neighbourhood of Wadjer, east of Mogadishu, a security source said. He spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.Later, in another attack, at least seven people were killed and more than eight others were injured when two car bombs targeted the Weheliye hotel in the capital, Ali Yusuf, a police captain in the area, said by phone.

It is very early to know how many people have been killed but [from] what I know we have seen is at least seven people killed, including soldiers and eight others wounded. The wounded people were rushed to Madina and Darushifa hospitals for treatment

Howlwadag district commissioner also confirmed the death toll to the Anadolu Agency.

Weheliye hotel is said to be frequented by government officials, including MPs and is located just a few steps from the Somali parliament building.

The Somali militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the Weheliye hotel attack.

The terror group said its target was government soldiers, officials and workers gathering outside the hotel and claimed that over 20 people were killed.

Read: Unpaid soldiers strike and protest in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, SOMALI – MARCH 13: People along with security forces gather at explosion site after an attack staged with two bomb-laden vehicles in front of Weheliye Hotel in Mogadishu, Somali on March 13, 2017. At least 8 people reported dead. ( Sadak Mohamed – Anadolu Agency )

MOGADISHU, SOMALI – MARCH 13: People along with security forces gather at explosion site after an attack staged with two bomb-laden vehicles in front of Weheliye Hotel in Mogadishu, Somali on March 13, 2017. At least 8 people reported dead. ( Sadak Mohamed – Anadolu Agency )

MOGADISHU, SOMALI – MARCH 13: People along with security forces gather at explosion site after an attack staged with two bomb-laden vehicles in front of Weheliye Hotel in Mogadishu, Somali on March 13, 2017. At least 8 people reported dead. ( Sadak Mohamed – Anadolu Agency )

MOGADISHU, SOMALI – MARCH 13: People along with security forces gather at explosion site after an attack staged with two bomb-laden vehicles in front of Weheliye Hotel in Mogadishu, Somali on March 13, 2017. At least 8 people reported dead. ( Sadak Mohamed – Anadolu Agency )

MOGADISHU, SOMALI – MARCH 13: People along with security forces gather at explosion site after an attack staged with two bomb-laden vehicles in front of Weheliye Hotel in Mogadishu, Somali on March 13, 2017. At least 8 people reported dead. ( Sadak Mohamed – Anadolu Agency )

MOGADISHU, SOMALI – MARCH 13: People along with security forces gather at explosion site after an attack staged with two bomb-laden vehicles in front of Weheliye Hotel in Mogadishu, Somali on March 13, 2017. At least 8 people reported dead. ( Sadak Mohamed – Anadolu Agency )

MOGADISHU, SOMALI – MARCH 13: People along with security forces gather at the explosion site after an attack staged with two bomb-laden vehicles in front of Weheliye Hotel in Mogadishu, Somali on March 13, 2017. At least 8 people reported dead. ( Sadak Mohamed – Anadolu Agency )