3 killed in bomb attack in Somalia’s capital

Three soldiers were killed in a bomb attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu yesterday, Garowe Online reported.

A remotely controlled road side bomb struck a Somali military vehicle, killing three soldiers. Somali soldiers close by began firing their guns into the air to warn crowds.

No armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack, however the Al-Qaeda aligned Al-Shabaab frequently conducts attacks in densely populated areas, including the capital.

Garowe Online reported that the Somali government launched a military operation in search of the attackers, but no arrests have been made.

In October last year, a truck bomb attack in Mogadishu killed more than 500 people. The vehicle exploded outside a busy hotel. A second blast set off in a nearby market two hours later. The five suspected bombers made their first appearance before a military court early this month. A legal verdict has not been concluded as the trial was adjourned for the prosecution to gather evidence.

Somalia has a high risk of terrorism, with Al-Shabaab located in the south of the country and an offshoot of Daesh in the north-west. Both groups seek to dislodge the Somali government and implement a strict interpretation of Islamic law across the country.

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