Al Shabaab jihadist group confirmed that one of the bombers in the twin
explosions yesterday, July 26, near the airport in Mogadishu, was
57-year-old former Somali MP, Salah Badbado.
Babado was member of the Somali Federal Parliament in the transitional
government from 2000 to 2004. He was representing his constituency in
Sana region before defecting to the Islamist group in 2010
At least 13 people were killed in the two car bomb attacks near an
entrance to the airport in Mogadishu, where there is also a base for
African Union (AU) peacekeepers. Five others were injured, most of the
dead were UN contractors who operate near the scene of the explosions,
Police chief Bishar Gedi told reporters
Local journalists said one of the bombs was detonated by a suicide
attacker near a checkpoint. Another blast hit the airport’s perimeter
wall. Those killed were believed to include security guards at the
checkpoint.
Al- Shabaab in a statement said it was a suicide attack by its militants.
“The two explosions were carried out by two brave Mujahedeen suicide
bombers and they have targeted two different locations where the
so-called AMISOM peacekeepers are stationed,” it said, referring to the
African Union.
AMISOM troops were deployed to Somalia in 2007 to defend the government
against attacks by the Islamist group. The Shabaab were forced out of
the capital five years ago but continue to carry out regular attacks on
military, government and civilian targets.
In recent months they have claimed attacks on bases of the African Union
peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as well as civilian targets
including hotels.