2nd LD writethru: Death toll from Mogadishu police academy attack rises to 13

MOGADISHU, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the early Thursday suicide bombing attack at General Kahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu has risen to 13 while 15 others were injured.

Aamin Ambulance Director Abdukadir Abdirahman told Xinhua they had ferried 13 bodies to the city's Medina Hospital.

"A total of 13 bodies from the attack are now in Medina Hospital. Another 15 were injured and receiving medical treatment," he said.

Police said the suicide bomber strapped with a bomb vest blew up during rehearsals in preparation for the Dec. 20 Police Day celebrations in Somalia. The attack took place at 7:30 a.m.

Female police officers were among those killed in the attack in which Al-Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility. The insurgents said they killed 27 police officers.

The militant group frequently exaggerates the number of troops/civilians they kill or injure, while Somalia government and African Union mission (AMISOM) rarely give exact tolls.

But Somali authorities said they have launched investigations to establish the motive behind such attack amid fears the death toll may rise as some people have been critically injured.

The security chiefs said the circumstances under which the suicide bomber infiltrated the heavily guarded police academy remain unclear.

The attack comes barely two months after the militants stormed Nasa Hablood II hotel in the city centre killing more than 25 people. Enditem