At least five people were killed and 28 injured when jihadists exploded a suicide car bomb outside a popular hotel close to the presidential palace in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Tuesday. "We have confirmed five people killed including security guards", police officer Mohamed Abdulkadir said. He said the vehicle rammed through a checkpoint and was fired on by security forces before it exploded outside the SYL hotel.
The hotel is situated close to the main entrance to the Villa Somalia government complex that includes the presidential palace, ministry buildings and residences. "The blast was very huge but thanks to God the number of casualties is less than the devastation suggests," Abdulkadir said. "We have received 28 people who were wounded in the blast," said Mohamed Yusuf, director of the city's main Medina hospital. A witness described seeing a large blast and a thick plume of smoke that rose high into the air.