Car bomb hits Somali capital

The Islamic militants al-Shabaab have claimed responsibility for a car bomb in at a busy junction in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing three people.

The explosion was detonated at a checkpoint found near Somalia’s parliament, and left several vehicles in the surrounding area ablaze.

The jihadist group has stepped up its campaign of violence in the region.  10 days ago, it claimed responsibility for another explosion that killed 90 people, also in Mogadishu.

Furthermore, its fighters launched an attack on a military base in Kenya over the weekend, killing three American personnel and destroying several aircraft.

Somali officials say in response they have launched air strikes against known al-Shabaab sites.

Photo credit: Reuters | Feisal Omar