Mortar barrages target Somalia’s presidential compound

Somali security officials says mortar shells have struck Somalia’s presidential palace compound and nearby residential area on Thursday.

Two mortars hit inside the presidential palace while three others targeted outside the compound. One person is reported to have been killed by the barrages.

Al-Shabab claimed the responsibility for the latest attacks.

Medical sources confirmed they received victims wounded in the mortar shelling which sent shockwaves across the Somali capital.

It’s not the first time the Al-Qaeda linked group carried out mortar attacks in the city which has seen series of bombings by the group.

At least 28 people, including top government officials were killed and dozens were wounded after a suicide attack at a hotel in the city last week.

Despite losing key strongholds, Al-Shabab remains a security threat to the horn of Africa nation struggling to recover from decades of war.