MOGADISHU – Somalia’s government spokesman Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu sustained minor was wounded after a suicide bomber attacked his vehicle in the capital Mogadishu, police said on Sunday.
Moalimuu was targeted as he was driving his vehicle at the Dabka junction in the Somali capital and has been immediately rushed to a hospital where he is being attended to by doctors.
“A suicide bomber targeted the government’s spokesman, who is now being treated in hospital for his injuries from the blast,” police spokesman Abdifatah Aden told Reuters news agency.
Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, has condemned the attack on the government spokesperson and wished him a speedy recovery in a statement carried on his official Twitter handle.
“[Somali Prime Minister] strongly condemns the odious terrorist attack targeting Government spokesman, Mr Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu who sustained injuries today but is in stable condition. The PM wishes Mr Moalimuu a quick recovery,” the Premier’s office tweeted.
The PM H.E @MohamedHRoble strongly condemns the odious terrorist attack targeting Government Spokesman, Mr Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimu who sustained injuries today but is in stable condition. The PM wishes Mr @MOALIMUU a quick recovery.
— OPM Somalia ?? (@SomaliPM) January 16, 2022
Al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, the second bomb blast within a week after a car bomb loaded with explosives targeted a convoy carrying foreign officials outside the road leading to the Airport on Wednesday.
Al- Qaeda affiliate group later said in a statement through their Andalus radio that they had killed two “American officers” in the bombing and wounded two others though the UN distances itself from the claims.
Suicide bombs and attacks have been soaring in recent days amid as power struggle between the President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble over handling of the ongoing elections in the country.