Somalia: several killed in suicide attack on a security convoy

Police in Somalia confirmed that eight civilians were killed and 17 other wounded in a car bombing in the capital Mogadishu, state television has reported.

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.

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.