Suicide attack attempt against Somalia’s presidential palace foiled by security forces

Suicide attack on Somalia’s gov’t foiled

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A police officer in Somalia says a suicide bomber who attempted to attack the presidential palace in Mogadishu has been shot dead.

Police officer Abdi Aden says the attacker jumped on the back of an African Union peacekeeping vehicle late Monday and managed to pass some security checkpoints at the palace.

Aden says that at the last checkpoint security forces saw the attacker, who threw a grenade but was then shot dead.

Aden says the assailant was wearing an explosives vest, which did not go off.

There were no immediate reports of any additional deaths or injuries.

Al-Shabab militants have increased their attacks against Somalia’s weak government over the last month.