Alwaght- At least 22 people have been killed on Tuesday when a car bomb exploded near the Somali president's palace in Mogadishu, which caused a huge blast and destroyed two hotels nearby, according to police.
The blast, which has been claimed by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, partly destroyed two nearby hotels
.“A suicide car bomb exploded outside the presidential palace. So far two hotels opposite the palace are partially destroyed,” Major Mohamed Ali, a police officer, told Reuters by phone.
In one of them – the SYL – a meeting of security officials was taking place as the device exploded, Somalia’s Information Minister confirmed. One minister and some state radio journalists were reportedly among at least 55 people injured.
Frequented by government officials, the SYL is believed to have been the intended target of the attack.
Witnesses and social media users reported hearing a loud explosion in Mogadishu, followed by gunfire.
"There was a blast close to the SYL Hotel area, near the main checkpoint of the presidential palace," said Ibrahim Mohamed, a security officer.
Images posted to social media showed huge plumes of smoke rising above the president's palace.
Al-Shabaab militants have run a campaign of suicide bombings and armed attacks in 2016, including a previous assault on the SYL hotel in February in which at least nine people were killed.
The terror group is waging an insurgency against the Western-backed government in Mogadishu. Somalia is due to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in September and October, with tribal elders selecting MPs rather than a popular vote.
