A Somali policeman walks past a burnt car after an explosion outside the Maka Al-Mukarama hotel in Somalia's capital Mogadishu
A Somali policeman walks past a burnt-out car after an explosion outside the Maka Al-Mukarama hotel in Somalia's capital Mogadishu (Reuters)

At least six people have been killed in a suspected car bomb suicide attack outside a popular hotel in Mogadishu.

The Maka hotel is located on one of the capital's main roads, Maka Mukaramah, which connects the presidential palace to the airport. Islamist militants of the al-Shabaab group - who were kicked out of Mogadishu two years ago but have continued to attack the city - are suspected of the attack.

"We understand a car laden with explosives was parked in front of the hotel," Farah Aden, a senior police officer, told Reuters. "This car bomb exploded and burnt the other cars which were also parked there."

Six people, including four policemen, were killed in the blast. Fifteen others were wounded.

Hotel Maka Mukaramah
Hotel Maka Mukaramah (alfaatihali/Instagram)

Other reports put the death toll at 10.

Four cars and two motorbikes were burnt out at the scene.

In September, al-Shabaab carried out an attack on the Nairobi's Westgate Shopping Centre, in which at least 67 people died during a four-day siege.

Somalia