MOGADISHU (SD) – Three women, two of whom were pregnant were this morning killed by unidentified gunmen in Somali capital Mogadishu.

According witnesses, the trio who were said to be cleaners at Somali Defense Ministry were shot dead In Daynile district as they boarded a bajaj to work.

In a Statement, Somali police have linked the killing of the women saying the attack had the hallmarks of al-Shabaab militants.

“The police have launched investigation into the murder of the three innocent women. The perpetrators of this attack will be brought to book,” the statement reads in part.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

“Somali police are investigating the killing of three women this morning, two of whom were pregnant, by militants believed to be terrorists. It is not new for the Somali people to see mothers who are looking for a livelihood for their children are brutally killed by terrorist groups. ” said the statement from the police.

The murder of the women comes barely a day after a car laden with explosives went off in Somali capital.

Authorities in Daynile district later arrived at the scene and removed the bodies of the dead and wounded women.

The blast killed one person and wounded several others. Several vehicles also were also destroyed.