Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud has strongly condemned al-Shabaab’s deadly bomb attack on a hotel and…
Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud has strongly condemned al-Shabaab’s deadly bomb attack on a hotel and garden in Mogadishu that left dozens of civilians dead and wounded.
In a Press Statement released on Saturday, Mr Mohamoud accused the al-Qaeda-linked terror group of targeting civilians and gathering places.
‘’Yesterday’s al-Shabaab attack just shows how this group is proud of shedding innocent blood that are thirsty for peace. We reaffirm our resolve to fight terrorism and eliminate them from our country.’’
President Mohamoud, who has been out of the country for almost a week also offered his condolences and sympathy to the families of victims.
Al Shabaab suicide bombers detonated two vehicles laden with explosives weighing 200 kilograms outside Hotel SYL and Peace Garden, close to the Presidential Palace. Additional attackers then tried to force their way in to the hotel through the gate and opened fire on security staff.
According to health officials, at least 21 people died and over 40 were left injured.
The bomb blasts rocked the area and caused extensive damage to cars and buildings in the immediate vicinity.
Somali intelligence officials have said that the explosives were of a higher grade than the ones the insurgency has used before. Several buildings and residential homes collapsed due to the magnitude of the bombs.
Though al-Shabaab was pushed out of key towns in South and Central Somalia, the group has been able to hit high-profile targets in Mogadishu’s heavily fortified areas, including the national courts, the UN compound, the Turkish embassy, and popular gathering places.
Analysts believe that the growing strength of insurgents in Mogadishu is due to the slow response of the Somali government and lack of professional military with counterterrorism units, robust intelligence-gathering and sharing initiatives.
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