By Suleiman Sabdow
MOGADISHU- At least 8 people were killed and 17 others injured In a suicide car bombing that happened between Kilometre 4 and Tarabunka area in Taleh district, Mogadishu this morning.
A police official told the media the car bombing targeted a UN security team escorted by Duguf Security, a local security firm.
The incident occurred at about 7.30 am local time.
“The bomb attack took place during rush hour and there are a lot casualties but I can confirm that at least eight people were killed and more than 17 others were wounded,” said the official.
The bomb whose effect was felt in the nearby neighborhood left sections of Mucaasir school destroyed with pictures showing classrooms which have been teared by the explosion.
Medical sources told Frontier Online that a school children and teacher are among the casualties of the deadly bombing attack.
Police have cordoned off the area as investigation into the attack commences.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack saying they targeted an AU military convoy carrying “foreign white military officers”.
The convoy was reportedly traveling from Gordon training camp enroute to Halane base camp located within the precincts of Aden Abdulle international airport.
European Delegation to Somalia condemned the suicide car bombing and reiterated their commitment to supporting the government of Somalia in the war against insurgency.
EU Delegation to Somalia voices its utter condemnation of this morning’s bomb attack in Mogadishu,and the senseless terrorist campaign by Al Shabaab. Violence will not derail the EU’s resolve to help the people of Somalia.Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and close ones
— EU Del in Somalia (@EU_in_Somalia) November 25, 2021
Also, United States embassy in Mogadishu has strongly condemned the bombing in a statement posted on their Twitter handle.
The embassy expressed solidarity with the citizens of Somali and particularly the families of those who lost their lives in today’s attack.
Our thoughts are with the victims of this morning's bombing and with the families of those tragically killed and injured. The United States strongly condemns all forms of terrorism. The people of #Somalia deserve to live without fear of attack.
— U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia (@US2SOMALIA) November 25, 2021
This comes barely 4 days after prominent Somali journalist and director of state owned Radio Moqadishu Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled also commonly as Abdiaziz Afrika was killed and his State media colleague Sharmake Warsame seriously wounded as they were leaving a restaurant near the country’s security Ministry.
The Al- Qaeda affiliate group Al-Shabab said it was behind the attack and had targeted the journalist in retaliation for the Somali government execution of Hassan Hanafi, a former journalist-turned Al-Shabaab who was executed by the govt in 2016.
Sharmake Warsame who is the director of the Somali Television (SNTV) has since been airlifted to Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday evening for specialized treatment.
Al-Shabab an Islamist insurgent group based in Somalia. Is trying to overthow the central government of Somalia backed by the United Nations.
They once held sway over the capital of Mogadishu and large portions of the Somali countryside, but were dislodged from the capital Moqadishu by Africa Union (AU).
However, the militant group remains thorn in the flesh to the war-torn Somalia, and continues to stage incessant attacks against AU forces and civilians in the Horn of Africa State.