Truck bomb blast kills 5 outside Somali capital

At least five people were killed, all civilians, and more than eight wounded when a truck bomb attack targeted a security checkpoint on the outskirts of the Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

The attack took place in Sinka-Dheer, a small village on the outskirts of the capital, police Sgt. Ismail Adan told Anadolu Agency over the telephone.

A truck car bomb blast targeted a security checkpoint near an army base outside Mogadishu,

he said.

More than eight others, including women and children were wounded, and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, he added.

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Ahmed Sid Arab, Internal Security Ministry spokesman, confirmed the attack to reporters.

Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the attack.

Wednesday’s attack comes only hours after two people were killed in Mogadishu by gunmen.