An explosion occurred on Sunday in the Somali capital city of Mogadishu, local media reported.
The blast was caused by a car loaded with explosives, Radio Kulmiye reported.
"A suicide car bomb (rammed) into the district office of Hawlwadag in Mogadishu. It is too early to know casualties," major Abdullahi Hussein, a police officer stated.
According to information posted on Twitter, the incident took place in Howlwadag district.
#Update Howlwadaag District Administration Building hit huge Blast, no casualties reported yet, Mogadishu #Somalia pic.twitter.com/bzVEjO9S2w
— Today from Somalia (@Showqi2013) September 2, 2018
Law enforcement officers and ambulances have arrived at the scene. Earlier media reported that at least five children were killed in the explosion, others remain under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
#updates: pictures from the Scene, Howl-wadaag district, #Mogadishu. pic.twitter.com/YP5YwTI8QR
— Ahmedweli Hussein (@AhmedweliH) September 2, 2018
Later in the day, a radio station confirmed that the blast had targeted the district's administration center. A school was destroyed in the incident.
The three soldiers that stopped the car were killed, the other three victims are citizens, according to the mayor's representative. Fourteen people, including six children, have been injured.
The al-Shabaab* terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
#Breaking: Huge Explosion just occurred in #Mogadishu. around #presidential place. we don't know exactly who the target was. #Somalia. pic.twitter.com/rXuQo34Hoi
— Munasar Mohamed (@MunaserMohamed) September 2, 2018
#BREAKING: Five kids and their Quran teacher confirmed to have dead in the explosion, while a Madrasah beside of the target site destroyed, according to sources. #Mogadishu #Somalia pic.twitter.com/Ux0O3xu0yR
— Abdi Rahman Adani (@abdi_adaani) September 2, 2018
READ MORE: Some 10 People Killed and 20 Injured in Attack on Somalian Interior Ministry
On July 7, at least 10 people died and 20 more were injured as a result of an attack on the Interior Ministry building in the Somali capital.
In June, one American soldier was killed and four others were injured in an attack reportedly carried out by the terrorist group al-Shabaab.
*The al-Shabaab is a terrorist group banned in Russia
