8 Killed in Twin Explosions near Mogadishu Airport in Somalia

At least eight people were killed and several injured on Tuesday in a twin car bomb blast near Mogadishu’s airport, including one close to the UN’s political office in the Somali capital.

The explosion occurred in about 10 minutes interval with the first car attempting to speed through the airport entrance before it exploded then the second car was reportedly detonated near the United Nations headquarters close to the airport, African news agency reported.

Identity of dead people have not been announced yet.

The city’s airport is heavily fortified and adjoins the capital’s main base for the African Union mission to Somalia, the 22,000-strong force backing the government in the battle against Shabaab insurgents.

Al-Shabaab group affiliated to al-Qaeda terrorists are noted for setting off car bombs targeting security personnels.

Early this month, al Shabaab killed 10 Somali soldiers when they rammed a car packed with explosives into a Somali army base southwest of the capital.

The terrorists were chased out of Mogadishu in 2011 but remain a serious threat in both Somalia and neighboring Kenya, where they carry out frequent attacks.