Bomb blast kills former Somali official

A former Somali government official has reportedly died after a powerful bomb explosion ripped through his vehicle in northern Mogadishu.

Ubeyd Mohamud Mohamed, the security head of former Somali prime minister Ali Mohamed Gedi, was killed after a roadside bomb targeted his vehicle at Shibbis district in north Mogadishu.

His three security guards as well as four other police officers were killed in the incident.

Witnesses said the car was completely destroyed by the bomb.

Hassan Rageh Olow, a local official said he and his aides have gone to the scene of the incident to oversee the attack.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack and the motive behind it remains obscure.