Car bomb blast in Somalia’s capital kills at least 7

Reporting from NAIROBI, Kenya — At least seven people died in a powerful car bomb explosion in Somalia’s capital Monday, a senior police officer said.

At least nine people were injured in the blast set off in an explosives-laden car parked near a mall close to Mogadishu’s local government offices, in the Hamarweyne district, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, however such attacks are frequently carried out by Somalia’s Islamic extremists rebels, Shabab, who are linked to Al Qaeda.

Despite being ousted from Mogadishu and most other urban centers in the south and central areas of the country, Shabab continues to carry out deadly suicide attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries.