MOGADISHU, Somalia - A pair of explosions rocked Somalia’s capital and left 11 people dead, the country’s police chief said Saturday, as the al-Qaida-linked extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility. He said the first car bomb went off near a security checkpoint for the presidential palace and was responsible for nine deaths. The second car bomb killed the driver and his accomplice near a checkpoint on the road to the heavily fortified airport, he said. Al-Shabab, which often targets the capital, said the blasts were meant to strike the first line of security checkpoints for the airport and palace. The multinational African Union force in Somalia continues to gradually withdraw personnel in preparation for Somali government forces to assume responsibility for the country’s security.

Source: thestar June 15, 2019 15:09 UTC