MOGADISHU, Somalia — A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at a security checkpoint near Mogadishu’s international airport Monday, killing at least three people, a Somali police officer said.
Capt. Mohamed Hussein said the bomb detonated as security forces were searching cars at the checkpoint, a few hundred meters (yards) from the main base of the African Union peacekeeping mission.
The checkpoint is close to United Nations offices and the Peace Hotel, which is often frequented by foreigners and officials. The powerful blast blew roofs off nearby buildings.
A second blast and heavy gunfire could be heard shortly afterward.
The first blast destroyed the checkpoint run by the Somali national security forces, the African Union mission said on Twitter. The explosion allowed a second bomb-laden vehicle to pass, but AU forces “engaged” it and it exploded about 200 meters from Medina Gate, the AU mission said.