Police in Somalia have confirmed the death of eight civilians in a car bombing in the capital Mogadishu, state television has reported.
Some 17 other people have been wounded, including 13 children from a school near the blast scene.
An al-Shabab suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden vehicle targeted a convoy of a private security firm, Duguf, which is contracted to protect the UN.
The police did not say if UN staff were hurt in the attack.
Local media reports said the blast occurred during the morning rush hour near the busy Kilometre Four junction.
The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants have confirmed carrying out the attack. Pro-al-Shabab media sources said the militants targeted “white military officers”.
Al-Shabab frequently targets security forces and government officials in Mogadishu.
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Somali among the two survivors of Channel boat tragedy
A Somali was one of the two people who survived fatal attempt to cross the English Channel that separates the UK from France, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has said.
The other person was from Iraq.
At least 27 people drowned on Wednesday as they were trying to make the journey in a small inflatable boat. Their identities are not yet known.
It’s the worst tragedy since the area became a common crossing point for migrants in 2018. Four suspected people smugglers have been arrested.
In other news:Burkina Faso extends internet suspension
The government in Burkina Faso has extended the suspension of mobile internet services.
Services were supposed to have been restored on Wednesday, after being shut down for four days.
The shutdown came amid anti-French demonstrations and growing political unrest in the country over insecurity.
The government explained the initial suspension by citing national security and defence reasons and a spokesperson said concerns still existed.
Earlier in the week, the government had however offered a different explanation saying the nation wanted silence while burying its soldiers on Tuesday.
Dozens of soldiers were killed last week in a suspected militant jihadist attack in the north.
Source: BBC
