Car bombing leaves 4 dead, 10 others injured in Mogadishu

A police officer who declined to be named told Xinhua that the police intercepted a car loaded with explosives at the first check point of Aden Adde International Airport.

"As routinely, the police were checking the cars traveling on Mogadishu roads, then one of the cars in line detonated unexpectedly causing the death of four people while 10 others were injured," the officer said, adding that the police are now in the scene to secure the area.

Eye witnesses said the blast was loud and shook the area which is near the main airport.

"The blast was huge and caused panic among the residents. I have seen injured people being taken to the hospital," Halima Ahmed, an eye witness told Xinhua.

Independent sources said the blast ripped through a military vehicle with soldiers onboard leaving three soldiers dead. However, the police or the army did not confirm the report.

No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack in Mogadishu but al-Shabab militant group which has been fighting to overthrow the government, usually stages such attacks.

The blast came just two days after security agencies warned of possible vehicle borne improvised explosive device attack on unspecified locations in the restive capital, Mogadishu.

On June 15 the militants carried out an attack on the same road which resulted in the death of the bomber.

The blast came as the police tightened the security of the capital blocking the main roads of the city to ward off possible militant attacks.