Suicide attack outside Mogadishu kills 3 people

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia

At least three people were killed and three others were wounded when a suicide car bomb blast targeted a security checkpoint in Sinka Dher, outskirts of the Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday, police said.

Mohamed Bulle, a police officer in Mogadishu told Anadolu Agency by phone that the blast was a suicide car bomb attack.

"The blast was a suicide car bomb blast and was hit in our security checkpoint in Sinka Dher, three people including the attacker were killed, and three civilians were also wounded" Bulle said.

"Our security forces prevented the suicide attacker from entering the city which we believe that was its main target" he added.

Al-Qaeda affiliated group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack and said it had killed more than 30 government soldiers according to local media.

Abdi Asis Ali Ibrahim, spokesman for the internal security minister who confirmed the attack to the media has denied al-Shabaab's claim.

Thursday's suicide attack comes a week after double car bomb blasts in Mogadishu killed more than 28 people in which al-Shabaab also claimed responsibility.Sinka Dher, is a small village located in the outskirts of the Somali capital Mogadishu linking the main road between the capital and Afgoye town in Lower Shabelle region.