UPDATED 7 a.m. ET:
The terrorist group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for a series of explosions at the Mogadishu airport in Somalia, likely from two suicide bombers in separate cars.
According to Al Jazeera, 13 people were killed in the attacks. This includes nine UN security forces and five civilians, with the thirteenth death unaccounted for. African Union peacekeeping forces, known as AMISOM, spoke out on Twitter to condemn the attacks.
See original story below.
At around 9:10 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning, two huge explosions occurred near Mogadishu International Airport in Somalia. Immediately following the explosions, gunfire was heard in the area.
Reporter Harun Manuf of Voice of America is reporting that the explosions were caused by "suicide car bombs" at checkpoints near the entrance to the airport, which also serves as a base for African Union peacekeepers.
There are also reports of continuing gunfire between the attackers and security forces.
Initial unconfirmed reports have some casualties among security agents.
