Suicide bomber detonates near Somalia's presidential palace

A suicide bomber has detonated a bomber near a checkpoint outside the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

According to a police report on Saturday February 13, 2021, the explosion killed the suicide bomber and wounded seven other people.

Police spokesman Sadiq Ali Adan said, “The driver defied orders to stop on Saturday morning, and police opened fire as passersby ran for their lives.”

He revealed more than a dozen vehicles were destroyed in the blast.

This latest bombing occurred as Somali politicians argue over how to hold a national election. The vote had been scheduled for Feb. 8, and some argue that President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has overstayed his mandate. He seeks a second four-year term. More talks on the election crisis are set for Monday.

The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab extremist group based in Somalia often targets high-profile areas of Mogadishu. It has threatened to attack the polls.