MOGADISHU, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and several others were injured in a suicide car bomb in Afgoye town, about 30 kilometers west of the Somali capital Mogadishu, police said on Sunday.
A police officer who declined to be named told Xinhua that the car bomb hit a checkpoint manned by the security forces in Afgoye.
"I can confirm to you that a suicide bomber exploded a car bomb killing four people and injuring several others," the officer said.
Residents said the blast was huge and caused scare among the civilians. "The blast occurred at a checkpoint in our town, we knew that several people died in the attack," a resident, Amina Nur, told Xinhua.
The terror group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had killed 15 government soldiers, a claim denied by the officials.
Independent sources in Afgoye town said the bomber intended to hit a speeding military vehicle but missed the target, killing civilian bystanders. Two soldiers were also wounded, sources say.
