This morning, a deadly explosion killed two people in the Daynile district of Mogadishu. One of the deceased is a National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) commander. The other victim is reportedly a civilian. Several people also sustained injuries. The terrorist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the heinous act of violence.
Daynile, Mogadishu, SOMALIA. By Jama:
Preliminary reports suggest that an improvised explosive device (IED) concealed in the ground was responsible for the blast, which claimed the officer’s and the civilian’s lives. The attack targeted the four-wheel military vehicle, which the NISA commander was driving as part of a routine security inspection in the Daynile neighbourhood.
13 September attack in Daynile
The Daynile neighbourhood has been a frequent target of the militants. On 13 September, al-Shabaab attacked a military camp in the district with a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) attack targeting Somali National Army (SNA) troops. The blast reverberated across various parts of the capital but did not kill anyone.
Claiming responsibility for the attack, al-Shabaab stated that their primary target was the armed forces within the camp. “An Istish-Haadi [a suicide attacker] created an explosion that resonated throughout different neighbourhoods of the capital city. The attack targeted the apostate militias [al-Shabaab’s pejorative term for the Somali Security Forces] in a military camp in the Daynile district of the Banadir region. We have caused significant casualties among the apostate forces,” the group’s media outlet reported.
Ali Abdi Farah, the deputy commissioner for security in the Daynile district administration, provided further insights into the suicide bombing within his jurisdiction. “The vehicle was instructed to stop, but the driver disregarded the order and was met with gunfire. Subsequently, the vehicle detonated, injuring five soldiers and one civilian. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported,” he revealed.
2 September attack in Daynile
Additionally, on 2 September, a heavy explosion occurred in the War Laliska suburb of the Daynile district after security officers intercepted a Mogadishu-bound vehicle. The blast, attributed to the al-Shabaab terrorist group, did not cause any casualties due to the officers’ vigilance.
The security officers intercepted the vehicle after it avoided a security checkpoint on a major highway. Two passengers were taken for interrogation, during which the car exploded. The police subsequently arrested the individuals, now suspected of attempting to smuggle an explosive-laden vehicle to Somalia’s capital.
The officers successfully foiled what could have been a major terrorist attack by al-Shabaab in Mogadishu. The suspects have been in detention since then. Thanks to the officers’ vigilance, the explosion did not cause any casualties.
