Somalia releases names and photos of ‘truck bombers’

People carry the injured from the scene of a bomb attack in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia on October 14, 2017 [Sadak Mohamed/Anadolu Agency]

The Somali government yesterday released the identities of the persons it believes are responsible for the Mogadishu truck attack which killed some 350 people, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Osman Hajji was identified as the main bomber who drove the truck on 14 October, Minister of Internal Security Mohamed Abukar Islow told Somali National TV.

Four of the men suspected of being behind the Mogadishu truck bombing that killed some 350 people on 14 October 2017. [Somali Press Online]

Five other suspects arrested by Somali security forces were named as Hassan Adan Isack, the driver of a second vehicle; alleged bomber Ali Yussuf Ways; Abdiweli Ahmed Dirie, Al-Shabaab’s explosive expert in Mogadishu; Muktar Mohamed, who is accused of masterminding the attack; and Abdullahi Abdi Warsame.

Security forces recovered CCTV footage showing a truck crashing into other vehicles at Zoobe intersection just before the blast.

An investigation by the Guardian newspaper revealed that the bomber was a former Somali national army soldier, who may have been motivated by revenge following an US and Somali counter-terrorism raid that killed scores of civilians in his home village in August.

Read: US military convoy attacked in Somalia capital

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