Friday July 14, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - A suspected Al-Shabaab suicide bombing at an officers' camp near Somalia's Ministry of Defense killed multiple people on Friday, including the former deputy governor Abdi Ahmed Yusuf.
The perpetrator, alleged to have secured explosives to his jacket, detonated the device in a populated area within the camp, resulting in the death and injury of several officers, soldiers, and civilians. Among the confirmed deaths are Yusuf and an unnamed officer identified only by his nickname 'Qaanso'.'
Following the tragic incident, injured individuals were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The camp has since been shut down by government forces in response to the bombing.
Security is expected to be heightened in the aftermath of the incident, which may lead to localized disruptions to ground travel and business operations.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but security officials believe the militant insurgency group Al Shabaab, which frequently targets government and civilian installations, is behind the attack. While the blast was heard throughout the Hodan district and other areas, the Somali government has not released an official statement regarding the incident or its response.