By Jama:
Mogadishu, Somalia –
In the Huriwa district of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, an IED attack targeted the car of Moalim Adan, the commander of the Banaadir’s Eastern Division of the Somali Police Force (SPF). The Toyota Hilux vehicle was carrying Mr Adan, his deputy Liban Shidane, and several other officers.
The attack, which took place on Wednesday, July 12, resulted in the death of one police officer and injuries to three others.
The militant group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they killed two policemen and injured three others. “The commander survived the IED attack, but two of his security personnel were killed, and three more were injured,” claimed their media outlet.
Surge in IED attacks in the capital
Mogadishu, along with its surrounding neighbourhoods, has experienced a surge in IED attacks in recent times. Although al-Shabaab has been driven out of major urban centres in Somalia, the group still wields influence and maintains control over vast rural areas. Consequently, it continues to carry out attacks against both security forces and civilian targets, including the Somali Police Force.
Also on Wednesday, the Somali Digest already informed about another al-Shabaab IED, which targeted a Somali National Army (SNA) vehicle on its way to Mogadishu. The incident occurred in Sinka Dheer, a village located on the outskirts of Mogadishu in the direction of Afgooye.
Two weeks ago, a Somali Military Police vehicle was targeted in an attack claimed by al-Shabaab militants, who employed an IED on the road in Mogadishu’s Yaqshid District. Al-Shabaab’s media outlet claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it was carried out by their “Explosives Brigade”. According to the group’s claims, four officers were killed, while three others sustained injuries. However, the Somali Digest could not independently verify these claims.
