Somali authorities confirmed several deaths and injuries as a result of a suicide bombing that targeted today, Saturday, the police chief of the Banadir Governorate, whose capital is Mogadishu.

Police spokesman Sadiq Aden Ali confirmed that the explosion, carried out by a car bomb, targeted the convoy of Banadir Governorate Police Commander, Farhan Mohamud, known as Qarole, near the Banadir Hospital.

LATEST UPDATE: A suicide car bomb kills at least five and wounds ten others in Mogadishu on Saturday morning.

Witness tells @Keydmedia city's police chief Col Farhan Qarole was the primary target of the attack in #Somalia capital. He escaped unhurt from the blast. pic.twitter.com/C7VGpohOAX

— KEYDMEDIA (ENG) (@Keydmedia) July 10, 2021

The attack resulted in the death of 4 individuals and the injury of 9, the spokesman stated, whereas Qarole managed to escape unscathed.

Meanwhile, Reuters quoted eyewitnesses confirming that at least 8 people were killed, including a woman.

#BREAKING: Mogadishu police chief Farhan Mohamud popularly known as “Qarole” has survived a suspected suicide car bomb attack in #Mogadishu’s near Banadir junction on Saturday, police spokesman confirmed. The attack caused a casualty, more to follow. #Somalia

— Somalia Live Update (@HassanIstiila) July 10, 2021

Media sources confirmed that members of the security services are among the casualties, adding that the police chief was riding in an armored car, which saved his life.

The extremist group "al-Shabaab" claimed responsibility for the attack. 

Qarole took over the Mogadishu police command in late April.