Two bombs kill seven within two hours in Mogadishu

Two bombs killed seven people in the centre of Somalia's capital Mogadishu within a matter of hours on Thursday, with no group immediately claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Al-Shabaab, which is linked to Islamic State, has carried out dozens of attacks of a similar nature in recent months, as it tries to disrupt ongoing elections.

The first attack killed one person and injured four others, after a car bomb hit a popular cafe near the country's national theatre at around 11am local time.

The bomb exploded outside The Village restaurant on Shire Warsame Road and was reportedly aimed at Colonel Mohamed Dahir, a senior police officer.

In an interview with Radio Shabelle, Dahir confirmed he had survived, saying two of his security guards had been slightly injured.

Kulmiye Radio reported that one of its journalists, Abdulkadir Sheikh Mohyadiin, had been injured in the blast.

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Roughly two hours later, at around 1pm local time, a remote-detonated bomb killed six soldiers at the Afgooye military checkpoint.

The bomb had been planted under a tree close to the security checkpoint, located at the crossroads of Warshaddaha and Afgooye street.

Abdifatah Omar Halane, spokesperson for the Banadir region, told reporters that six soldiers had died and another six civilians had been wounded.