1st LD Writethru: 5 police officers killed in suicide bombing in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least five police officers were killed and several others injured in a suicide bombing attack on a police academy in the Somali capital city here early Thursday, police said.

A bomber wearing a police uniform detonated his explosive vest during a morning parade at the General Kahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu, a police officer told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The attack happened while police officers were conducting a rehearsal for the Police Day celebration scheduled for Dec. 20, the officer said. "He detonated himself inside the academy during a rehearsal exercise. Five officers are confirmed dead."

"We heard a huge blast in the police academy. The whole place has now been sealed off," local resident Guled Mohamed said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

At least 2,078 civilians were killed and 2,507 injured in Somalia's armed conflict, mainly involving the Al-Shabaab terror group, from January 2016 to Oct. 14, 2017, said a joint United Nations report released on Sunday. Enditem