SOMALIA: Somali Defence Minister Shiekh Yusuf Mohammad Siad escapes car bomb attack that kills at least two in Mogadishu

Record ID: 356216

  • Title: SOMALIA: Somali Defence Minister Shiekh Yusuf Mohammad Siad escapes car bomb attack that kills at least two in Mogadishu
  • Date: 16th February 2010
  • Summary: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (FEBRUARY 15, 2010) (REUTERS) ROAD BETWEEN AMISOM BASE AND TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (TFG) CONTROLLED AREA OF HODAN DISTRICT VARIOUS OF DAMAGED VEHICLES STATE MINISTER OF DEFENCE, SHEIKH YUSUF MOHAMMAD SIAD WITH HIS SECURITY GUARDS WALKING INTO OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) STATE MINISTER OF DEFENCE SHEIKH YUSUF MOHAMMAD SIAD SAYING: "It was a s
  • Embargoed: 3rd March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Somalia
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA74RSI7TMMY0SFC5HH89COHAOY
  • Story Text: At least two people were killed and several were injured in car bomb explosion targeted at Somali Defence minister's convoy.
    A car bomb explosion targeting government officials killed at least two people in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Monday (February 15).
    State Minister for Defence, Shiekh Yusuf Mohammad Siad also known as "Inda'ade" or white eyes said the attacks were targeted at him and his aides. He said the first bomb hit the back of one of the cars in his convoy but he was a car ahead.
    Muhammad said some people in the convoy came out to assist the injured when another parked car loaded with explosives was detonated via "remote control".
    Mohammad said there was also a third bomb that went off in the series of attacks that injured two of his body guards but left him unharmed.
    "It was a suicide car bomb attack intended to hit our convoy and there were others also intended to attack our convoy to kill myself and my escort but thanks to God I am safe and alive," said Muhammad.
    The exact number of dead and injured is still not confirmed. Muhammad said investigations were underway.
    "There were many casualties because it was a series of car bomb attacks. I can't tell the number but we saw dead and wounded. It also damaged houses including the Hotel Ambassador. This is under investigation by TFG police officials who are seeking to find out the exact casualties of the attack," said Muhammad.
    Somalia has not had an effective central government for nearly two decades, and the international community and neighbouring countries are worried about the threat posed by al Shabaab insurgents now controlling a large part of the country and fighting its fragile government.
    The near-daily clashes have killed at least 21,000 people since the start of 2007.
    For weeks, the government has been promising to launch an offensive against al Shabaab and another rebel group, Hizbul Islam, which both want to impose a harsh version of sharia law.
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