DHAKA: At least six people including a senior city council official have been killed in a Mogadishu explosion reported to have been caused by a remote-controlled bomb planted by al-Shabab fighters.

Police said on Saturday that the the bomb was hidden in a pile of rubbish placed alongside a road at the ‘Kilometer 4’ junction in the centre of the city.

It killed Abdikafi Hilowle, the secretary general of the Banadir region, and his guards.

At least 25 people were wounded, medical officials said, reports Al Jazeera.

Abdikadir Mohamed, a police major, told media, ‘A remotely controlled bomb hidden in paper bags of rubbish destroyed his car’.

Gunfire from police also rung out through the district, as police fired in the air.

BDST: 2038 HRS, MAY 03, 2014