Top police official survives bomb attack near Mogadishu airport 

The blast, which was heard in several neighborhoods in Mogadishu, took place outside Afrik hotel which came under Al-Shabaab attack in February of this year that killed over 10, including the ex-defense minister.

News Keydmedia Online
28 May 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A senior police colonel has narrowly escaped unhurt from a blast in the Somali capital on Friday evening in the latest in a recent series of attacks in the city.

A witness told KON that a landmine explosion struck an armored vehicle that was taking Col Mohamed Dahir at a security checkpoint in the vicinity of KM4 junction while heading to the airport direction.

The blast, which was heard in several neighborhoods in Mogadishu, took place outside Afrik hotel which came under Al-Shabaab attack in February of this year that killed over 10 people, including an ex-defense minister.

The officer who survived the terrorist explosion was in charge of the security of government offices and previously served as Hodon district police commissioner within Mogadishu. 

Somali police arrived at the scene of the blast and launched an investigation, although no arrests have been made so far. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Killings, magnetic bombs attached to the undercarriages of vehicles, as well as shootings, are common in the Somali capital targeting government officials who are are on Al-Shabaab rader.

KEYDMEDIA English