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![Al-Shabaab has waged a war in the capital Mogadishu and neighboring countries which support the Western-backed government in Somalia. In this archive picture, Somali soldiers inspect a car damaged in the attacks which killed at least 20 people in Mogadishu February 20 [Xinhua]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/238910722_8-e1424452091951.jpg)
Al-Shabaab has waged a war in the capital Mogadishu and neighboring countries which support the Western-backed government in Somalia. In this archive picture, Somali soldiers inspect a car damaged in the attacks which killed at least 20 people in Mogadishu February 20 [Xinhua]
Somali security officials said that 12 people had been killed in the attack, but provided no details.
An Al-Shabaab statement posted online said that a suicide bomber had carried out the attack against the “apostate” UAE government. Police sources said the suicide car bomber struck a pick-up truck carrying Somali military guards accompanying the UAE convoy.
There were unconfirmed reports that the attack had targeted the UAE ambassador, who was in a separate vehicle and escaped unharmed.
A police source told Reuters that the military trainers were in a bulletproof car and were also unhurt. Police earlier reported that six people had died in the attack, including two Somali military entourage and four civilians passers-by.
Six others were wounded in the attack near the UAE embassy, police said.
Al-Shabaab militants have regularly attacked countries which support the Western-backed government in Mogadishu or have contributed military forces to an African Union deployment in the country.
They blame these organizations for supporting what they say is an illegitimate government in the capital Mogadishu.
In the past year, Al-Shabaab has launched suicide bombing campaigns against Somali and foreign officials.
The extremist group has also targeted neighboring Kenya because of Nairobi’s support for the Mogadishu government, and its contribution to international forces there.
But Wednesday’s attack is considered the first of its kind against the UAE.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
