Tuesday October 17, 2017
by BRYANT MADDRICK
Somalis who call Central Ohio home are mourning an attack considered the deadliest in their native country. (WSYX/WTTE)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) -- Somalis who call Central Ohio home are mourning an attack considered the deadliest in their native country.
On Saturday, a truck bomb killed more than 300 people in the capital city of Mogadishu.
Somali-Americans living in Central Ohio went to a north Columbus mosque with a clear message on the violence.
"Pray for the victims and number two, condemn with the strongest term what happened in Mogadishu,” explained Horsed Nooh, director of the Abubakar Assidiq Islamic Center.
For Nooh, Saturday’s deadly attack strikes close to home.
"I lost some family members. I lost some friends. Many of them were the brightest minds from Columbus. They grew up here, they graduated from these schools and they went back to contribute."
Sharif-Ali Hashim also has loved ones in the African capital city. He said while they’re physically fine, emotionally they are hurting.
"My brothers, I have my sisters, relatives, friends, I talked with them and everybody and some of them they were in tears,” said Hashim.
Hashim explained people are turning to their faith to comfort their pain.
"Without faith, you cannot move."
Currently, members of Central Ohio’s Somali community are working on a fundraiser to help attack victims and their families.