Somali leader fires police, intelligence chiefs after attack on presidential palace

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia's government fired the police and intelligence chiefs a day after Islamic militants attacked the heavily guarded presidential palace in the capital, Mogadishu, the information minister announced Wednesday.

News Keydmedia Online
9 July 2014

Government troops and African Union peacekeepers repelled the attack and no government official was hurt, Mustafa Dhuhulow said. Three of the four extremist attackers were shot dead by soldiers after they forced their way into the presidential palace late Tuesday, sparking an exchange of gunfire, he said. The fourth militant was wounded.

Dhuhulow told reporters Wednesday that police commander Abdihakim Saaid and intelligence chief Bashir Gobe were replaced immediately.

A new minister for national security was also appointed in changes announced by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, who was inside the palace when the attack happened. Dhuhulow said the government would implement sweeping new security measures to prevent such attacks.

The presidential compound -- known also as Villa Somalia -- houses several government offices and is considered one of the safest places in Mogadishu because of the tight security presence. However, it has been attacked many times by Al Qaeda-linked militants over the years.

The Islamic extremist group al-Shabab has vowed to step up attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack was the second assault on Villa Somalia this year and it was the first time militants were able to breach its compound and take offensive positions inside. The palace is protected by government troops and African Union peacekeepers who helped to drive the al-Shabab militants out of Mogadishu in 2011.

The U.S. government condemned the latest attack. Such attacks "demonstrate that insecurity in Mogadishu persists, including very real threats from al-Shabaab," said Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman.

Somalia