ISHU, March 10 — At least four members of the Somali security force were killed and another injured in a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) attack on the outskirts of Mogadishu on Saturday, police said.

The attack, which happened Saturday evening, targeted security personnel in Weydow village, a few kilometers outside Mogadishu.

"Four soldiers died in the IED attack as they were traveling along Weydow area,” a police officer who demanded anonymity told Xinhua.

Locals said they heard a blast followed by gunfire.

"We heard a huge blast coming from an area Somali forces were passing. I also saw ambulance vehicle heading to the scene,” Fos Ahmed, a resident, told Xinhua.

No group had claimed responsibility but al-Shabab has increased such attacks on government forces in the past few weeks.

The attacks came amid military offensives against the militant group in southern Somalia