Somali forces arrest suspect in deadly market attack

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud said an arrest has been made in the car bombing that killed at least 20 people in a crowded market in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday, Voice of America reported.

Speaking at the launch of the country,s second Science and Technology Center in Mogadishu, Mohamoud, said "the man who carried out the deadly attack on civilians today was captured by the security forces."

According to security officials, at midday local time Saturday, a man parked a car laden with explosives at the entrance of an open air fruit and vegetable market in the city's Afesyoni neighborhood.

"The suspect attacker parked his car, and then detonated it when the security personnel asked him to move the car away," said Waberi district commissioner Husein Ahmed Ulosow. "He attempted to escape with injuries but the security forces apprehended him and now he is in custody."

The blast happened at the entrance to the Beerta market, which is close to Mogadishu's main airport. White smoke could be seen billowing over the neighborhood after the blast.

Ulosow said the Somali president's motorcade passed the road near the market just 30 minutes before the explosion. It is unknown if the president's convoy was the target.

Source: MENA