Suicide bomber hits near presidential palace in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A suicide bomber has detonated an explosives-laden truck near the gate of Somalia’s presidential palace in the capital on Tuesday, killing at least five people, police say.

The bomb exploded in the morning during a traffic jam, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein, a senior police officer.

The blast also injured 10 people and caused damage to nearby hotels often frequented by government officials and business executives, he said.

The explosion was heard across Mogadishu, and smoke was seen billowing over the area of the presidential compound.

Somalia’s Islamic extremist group al-Shabab has claimed the responsibility for the blast, according to the rebels’ Andalus radio station.