Somalian Islamists attack African peacekeepers base

Record ID: 83821

  • Title: Somalian Islamists attack African peacekeepers base
  • Date: 25th October 2016
  • Summary: BELEDWEYNE, SOMALIA (OCTOBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) SOMALI SECURITY PERSONNEL POINTING AT WHERE THE TRUCK EXPLODED SOMALI POLICE COLLECTING DEBRIS VARIOUS OF DESTROYED PART OF THE TRUCK TRUCKS ENGINE (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) HIRAN REGIONAL SPOKESMAN, MOHAMED NOR, SAYING: "We destroyed the lorry that was being driven by suicide bomber after it tried to hit the AMISOM base. We call on Hiran residents to work with security forces in getting rid of the militants, otherwise they will behead you as they did in El-Ali town. We also encourage Hiran residents to defend their dignity as they are not only fighting for the government but also for residents living in government-controlled areas." MORE OF DESTROYED TRUCK SOMALI SECURITY PERSONNEL DRIVING OFF FROM SCENE OF BOMBING
  • Embargoed: 9th November 2016 13:05
  • Keywords: Somalia attack suicide bomb islamists
  • Location: BELEDWEYNE, SOMALIA
  • City: BELEDWEYNE, SOMALIA
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: Bombing (non-military)
  • Reuters ID: LVA00155I6KP3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:EDIT CONTAINS FOOTAGE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Somalia's al Shabaab Islamist group rammed a suicide truck bomb into a military base of African AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) peacekeeping troops on Tuesday (October 25) in the area of Beledweyne town, north of the capital, Mogadishu.
    AMISOM, which is battling the Islamist rebels in support of the government, said a vehicle packed with explosives was set off at the base and 10 suspected al Shabaab militants attacked. "The terrorists were all killed," it said on Twitter.
    Al Shabaab, whose assessment of casualties often varies from those of officials said 17 soldiers from Djibouti were killed. AMISOM have not confirmed whether there have been any casualties.
    Al Shabaab, which once ruled much of Somalia, wants to topple the Western-backed government in Mogadishu and drive out African AMISOM peacekeepers made up of soldiers from Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda, Ethiopia and other African nations.
    The attack marks the build up to elections in coming weeks for the Somali parliament, which will in turn pick a new president to continue slow reconstruction efforts in a nation racked by more than two decades of conflict.
    Hiran regional spokesman, Mohamed Nor called on Hiran residents to work with security forces.
    "Otherwise they they will behead you as they did in El-Ali town. We also encourage Hiran residents to defend their dignity as they are not only fighting for the government but also for residents living in government controlled areas," he added.
    Al Shabaab's usual tactic is to ram the entrance to a target site so that its fighters can storm inside.
    AMISOM has been battling the rebels in support of the Somali government.
    Al Shabaab has often launched attacks in neighbouring Kenya, saying it will continue until Kenyan forces are withdrawn.
    Kenya's government has repeatedly said it would not be forced out of Somalia by al Shabaab, saying it sees the mission as a matter of national security.
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