MOGADISHU, April 28 (Xinhua) -- A Somali lawmaker on Friday survived a land mine attack in Mogadishu with two of his bodyguards sustaining light injuries.
A senior police officer, Mohamed Dahir, at the scene told Xinhua that Mohamed Abukate escaped unhurt after his vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Hodan district in Mogadishu.
"The landmine exploded immediately the vehicle of the lawmaker was in passed by. No casualties were reported but two of his bodyguards were slightly injured," said the police officer.
Residents said the bomb which went off around 8 pm local time shocked the area. "The blast was so huge and we could feel the shock waves from a distance. We learnt it was targeting the MP," Abdullahi Muse, 27, told Xinhua.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack which comes amid increased attacks from Al-Shabaab militants who are fighting to topple the Western-backed government.