By AFP

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MOGADISHU,

Two people were killed and five wounded on Tuesday when a car packed with explosives was detonated near the ministry of petroleum in the Somali capital, a security official said.

Mohamed Abdullahi Tulah, a regional security official, said the vehicle was parked at a petrol station in front of the ministry's offices in Mogadishu when it was detonated.

"It was hidden inside the petrol station parking where it went off, two civilians were killed and five others wounded in the blast," he told a press conference.

A witness, Dahir Adan, said one of those killed was a woman who was selling tea close to the blast scene.

"The blast was very heavy but luckily it did not cause fire destroying the petrol station and the casualty (toll) was minimal," he added.

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No group claimed responsibility.

Al-Shabaab jihadists seeking to topple the internationally-backed government regularly carry out attacks in the Somali capital. </s> At least two people were killed and five wounded on Tuesday in a suicide car bomb attack near the ministry of petroleum in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

A security official, Mohamed Abdullahi Tulah, said the car loaded with explosives was parked at a gas station near the Ministry.

Witnesses say one of the victims killed is a woman who sold tea near the site.

Though there was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday’s attack, Al Shabaab Islamists, have a history of conducting such bombings in the Somali capital.

Chased out of Mogadishu in 2011, the Shebab then lost most of their strongholds.

They have been fighting to to topple the western backed government of Somalia for over a decade. </s> Story highlights Four people are killed and five injured in blast in Mogadishu, Somalia

Car bomb explodes near prison where militant Al-Shabaab suspects are questioned

Mogadishu, Somalia (CNN) The Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for a car bombing that killed four people Saturday in the Somali capital.

A vehicle packed with explosives detonated near a prison run by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency in Mogadishu, Col. Hamza Ali, a senior police officer, told CNN. The car had been parked at the Blue Sky restaurant near Godka Jili'ow prison, a heavily protected facility where Al-Shabaab suspects are questioned.

Five people were injured in the attack, Ali said.

A statement posted on a pro-Al-Shabaab website said the car bomb had targeted a Somali intelligence officer at the restaurant.

Al-Shabaab is a Somali extremist group that seeks to turn the country into a fundamentalist Islamic state. It has carried out repeated attacks against Somalia's government and military targets.
Two people were killed and five others were injured in a car bombing near the Somali Petroleum Ministry and the responsibility was claimed by Al-Shabaab.