SUICIDE CAR BOMB KILLS 3 OUTSIDE MOGADISHU AIRPORT NEAR AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPERS HQ

At least three people were killed when a suicide attacker detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at a security checkpoint near Mogadishu’s international airport several hundred meters from the main base of an African Union peacekeeping mission.

The checkpoint is also close to United Nations offices and the Peace Hotel, which are frequently visited by foreigners and officials. The blast blew roofs off nearby buildings, according to reports. A second blast and heavy gunfire could also be heard at the checkpoint after the attack.

“A suicide car bomb rammed into the checkpoint outside the AMISOM base,” a police officer named Abdikadir Hussein told Reuters, adding “there are Somali security forces at the checkpoint and it is too early to know the number of casualties.”

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.