Mortar rounds landed on Somalia’s presidential palace in Mogadishu on Sunday, killing at least two security personnel, days after authorities deployed thousands of fresh troops to beef up security of the war-torn capital.
Some of the shells landed on the residence of the Minister of Petroleum Abdirizak Mohamed inside the presidential complex, killing at least two of his security guards, according to Caasimada Online news website. The minister narrowly escaped the attack.
Al-Qaeda-aligned militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility, saying it had targeted the president’s residence, in the highly-protected green-zone of Mogadishu.
It came days after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced new security measures and a ban on use of heavy weapons and battle wagons in the streets of the city.
