Feisal Omar, Abdi Sheikh

MOGADISHU, Reuters – A car bomb exploded in Mogadishu’s airport on Wednesday killing eight people.

Mohamed Osman, a resident of Mogadishu said that the explosion struck the roof and walls of a nearby mosque where he was praying.

Osman said that he saw many old homes collapsed and body parts lying on the streets, as well as hands and legs, when he came out from the mosque.

“Destroyed cars; burned Tuk Tuk (rickshaws); every mess and loss in a minute. But I survived.”

The perpetrator of the attack was unclear at this time.

Osman stated that he witnessed nine bodies from the accident scene. Abdikadir Abdirahman director of Aamin Ambulance Service put the death count at 8.

A car bomb struck a convoy. The convoy included bulletproof vehicles using Avisione street. However, it is not known who owned the vehicle. Abdirahman stated that they carried eight bodies from the scene.

Earlier, Reuters’ photographer captured four bodies, four cars damaged and two motor rickshas. Ahmed Nur, a nearby shopkeeper, claimed he saw at most five.

Reuters images from the scene revealed that a paramedic saw at least one injured person.

Similar attacks were previously carried out by the al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab Group.

This group seeks to take down the government central and enforce strict Islamic law interpretations. This group is known for carrying out regular bomb and gun attacks against security personnel and government targets as well civilians.

They also attack peacekeeping forces of the African Union.