Somali authorities investigate explosion that killed three policemen

Authorities in Somalia have launched an investigation into an explosion that left three policemen dead on Wednesday.

The officers had discovered an improvised explosive device inside a vehicle in Mogadishu, but it went off while bomb experts were trying to defuse it.

CGTN’s Abdulaziz Billow said that the city has been on high alert after al-Shabaab threatened to launch deadly attacks again. That day, police had been tracking a suspicious vehicle for the second time in three days.

Mohamed Omar Madaale, Police Chief of Mogadishu, said security forces were in pursuit of the vehicle when the occupants opened fire. Police “fired back, killing the driver, (but) the two passengers fled,” and the vehicle turned out to be laden with explosives.

Bomb experts tried to defuse the device, but within minutes a huge blast rocked Mogadishu's Wadajir neighborhood -- a heavily populated area.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility, saying the blast killed Somali and Western bomb experts.

Somalia is set to launch a nationwide offensive against the militants soon, and it has asked the international community to revoke a two-decade arms embargo as it seeks to rebuild its security institutions.

(CGTN)