UPDATE - Car bombing in Somali capital kills 5

UPDATES HEADLINE, DECK; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Mohamed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least five people were killed and several others wounded as a car bomb blast ripped through the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday, an intelligence officer confirmed.

The blast took place outside a restaurant near the national theatre shortly after noon prayers.

The wounded were rushed to hospital after paramedics arrived at the scene of the blast.

While the government did not immediately confirm the casualties, a security official told Anadolu that investigation had been initiated and further details were awaited.

The area where the explosion took place is frequented by high profile government and security officials. The presidential palace is also nearby.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but al-Shabaab has been behind numerous bombings and attacks in Mogadishu and other parts of the country.

The Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group has been waging an insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for more than 17 years.