MOGADISHU, Jan.18 (Xinhua) -- A car loaded with explosives on Saturday went off at a checkpoint manned by the Somali army in Afgoye area located 30 km northwest of Mogadishu.

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Police confirmed the incident but no official tally on the number of casualties has been released.

"We are still getting information regarding the casualties and will update you later. The blast was huge," said a source in the police service.

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua they heard a huge explosion near the checkpoint.

"I was on the same road when I heard a heavy blast and saw smoke rising up, it was a terrifying incident," eyewitness Hassan Elmi told Xinhua.

Independent sources said the target was a convoy carrying Turkish contractors.