Al Shabaab jihadist group have confirmed that one of the bombers in the twin explosions yesterday, July 26, near the airport in Mogadishu, was 57-year-old former Somali MP, Salah Badbado.
An ex-MP was one of two suicide car bombers who carried out Tuesday's deadly attacks in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, militants have said.
Salah Nuh Ismail, 53, was among those who killed 13 people in the suicide attacks near the city's main airport, the al-Shabab group said.
Also known as Salah Badbado, the former member of parliament quit the Somali parliament in 2010 after denouncing lawmakers as "infidels".
At least 13 people were killed in the two car bomb attacks near an entrance to the airport in Mogadishu, where there is also a base for African Union (AU) peacekeepers. Five others were injured, most of the dead were UN contractors who operate near the scene of the explosions, Police chief Bishar Gedi told reporters
Local journalists said one of the bombs was detonated by a suicide attacker near a checkpoint. Another blast hit the airport's perimeter wall. Those killed were believed to include security guards at the checkpoint.
Al- Shabaab in a statement said it was a suicide attack by its militants. "The two explosions were carried out by two brave Mujahedeen suicide bombers and they have targeted two different locations where the so-called AMISOM peacekeepers are stationed," it said, referring to the African Union.
Al-Shabab is fighting to oust Somalia's weak internationally-backed government. The large airport area in Mogadishu is a secure "green zone" for UN operations, the 22,000-strong African Union peace force and foreign embassies.
The militants were forced out of Mogadishu five years ago by African Union (AU) and government troops, but they have continued to carry out bombings in the city. It has been increasing its attacks ahead of planned elections in Somalia.
Hotels have been attacked by car bombs and armed assault teams over the past few weeks.