A massive truck bomb exploded outside Mogadishu’s new seaport Sunday morning, killing at least 16 people and wounding many others. The blast hit security forces and port workers.

The commander of Mogadishu’s police force, Colonel Bishar Abshir Geddi, told VOA Somali that authorities are investigating whether the truck was driven by a suicide bomber or was parked there earlier.

The militant group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group said a suicide bomber drove the vehicle into a security station outside the seaport. But witnesses and police said the truck bomb hit near the port’s tax office as dozens of employees and laborers were lined up as they arrived for work.

Mogadishu’s seaport is run by Albayrak, a Turkish company that has a 20-year agreement with the Somali government to upgrade and manage the operations of the port.

It is unclear if any of the Turkish nationals were hurt.
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