December 2019 Mogadishu bombing

Last updated

December 2019 Mogadishu bombing
Part of the Somali Civil War (2009–present)
Somalia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Ex-Control Afgoye
Ex-Control Afgoye (Somalia)
Location Mogadishu, Somalia
Coordinates 02°02′42″N45°16′58″E / 2.04500°N 45.28278°E / 2.04500; 45.28278
Date28 December 2019 (2019-12-28)
Attack type
 Suicide bombing
Weapons Truck bomb
Deaths85 (+12 missing)
Injured140+
Perpetrators Al-Shabaab

On 28 December 2019, a suicide truck bomber killed at least 85 people at the Ex-Control Afgoye police checkpoint in Mogadishu, Somalia. More than 140 others were wounded and, as of 31 December, 12 people remained missing. [1] Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack on 30 December. [2] [3] The attack was the deadliest in Somalia since the 14 October 2017 Mogadishu bombings, which killed 587 people.

Contents

Attack

The attack occurred at a busy intersection on the western outskirts of Mogadishu, at a police checkpoint during local rush hour. The major intersection connects Mogadishu with the rest of southern and southwestern Somalia. [4] The Ex-Control Afgoye checkpoint is located near a tax office, and is used by vehicles entering Mogadishu from nearby Afgooye town. [5]

The truck bomb explosion caused massive damage to the surrounding area, and left many of the dead burned beyond recognition. At least 15 of those killed were university students returning to class at Benadir University, whose minibus was demolished in the explosion. Two Turkish engineers, who were constructing a road from the checkpoint into the city, were also killed in the bombing. [6] Many others were wounded. [7] Fifteen critically injured people, including an eight-month-old baby, were airlifted to Istanbul, Turkey for further medical treatment; thirty other critically injured people received medical treatment in Qatar and other neighboring countries. [4] [8]

Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire announced the establishment of a national response committee to help the injured and offer support to those who lost family members in the attack. [4]

Responsibility and aftermath

Initially, no group claimed responsibility for the attack. [9] On 30 December, two days after the attack, radical Islamist group Al-Shabaab, which had carried out previous suicide attacks in Mogadishu, claimed responsibility. Through spokesman Ali Mohamud Rageh (also known as Ali Dhere), the group stated that they targeted a convoy of Turkish and Somali forces in the attack, noting that they "inflicted heavy losses on the Turks and the apostate militias who were protecting them." [10]

Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) stated that a foreign country helped organize the attack, issuing a statement that, "We have submitted to the national leaders a preliminary report indicating that the massacre against the Somali people in Mogadishu on 28 December 2019 was planned by a foreign country. To complete the ongoing investigation we will seek cooperation from some of the international intelligence agencies." [3] [10] However, the statement did not name the country suspected to be involved or provide additional evidence. [10]

The Somali government, in coordination with U.S. Africa Command, conducted three retaliatory airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab leaders in the Lower Shabelle region after the attack. The airstrikes, in the villages of Kunyo Barrow and Aliyow Barrow, killed four militants and destroyed two vehicles. [1] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali Civil War (2009–present)</span> Present phase of the Somali Civil War, concentrated in southern Somalia

The Somali Civil War (2009–present) is the ongoing phase of the Somali Civil War which is concentrated in southern and central Somalia. It began in late January 2009 with the conflict mainly between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops and al-Qaeda aligned al-Shabaab militants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Mogadishu (2010–2011)</span>

The Battle of Mogadishu (2010–11) began on 23 August 2010 when al-Shabaab insurgents began attacking government and African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) positions in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab began its offensive after its spokesman said the group was declaring a "massive war" on troops sent by AMISOM, describing its 6,000 peacekeepers as "invaders". In December 2010 the number of AMISOM troops was increased to 8,000 and later to 9,000. The battle's name usually includes the years, when referenced, in order to distinguish it amongst the nine major Battles of Mogadishu during the decades long Somali Civil War.

The 2011 Mogadishu bombing occurred on 4 October 2011, when a suicide bomber drove a truck into the gate of the Transitional Federal Government's ministerial complex in Mogadishu, Somalia. The resulting explosion killed 100 people and injured over 110 others. Al-Shabaab, an Islamist group, claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack is reported to be the largest since Al-Shabaab launched an insurgency in Somalia in early 2007. It also follows the withdrawal of Al-Shabaab's forces from the area in August after an AMISOM intervention to bring aid to the country during a season of drought.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 timeline of the Somali Civil War</span>

This is a 2012 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 timeline of the Somali Civil War</span>

This is a 2015 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

This article contains a timeline of events for the Somali jihadist group al-Shabaab.

A suicide bomber detonated a truck at a checkpoint outside the Somali Youth League hotel at 7:45pm on 26 February 2016 in Mogadishu, Somalia. It was followed by his accomplices clashing with the hotel security guards. The police said they ended the attack by killing the four insurgent gunmen. Five militants, including the suicide bomber, as well as 14 civilians were killed. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility. Sixteen other people were injured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 timeline of the Somali Civil War</span>

This is a 2016 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">14 October 2017 Mogadishu bombings</span> Terrorist attacks in Somalia

On 14 October 2017, two truck bombings took place in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, killing at least 587 people and injuring 316 others. Almost all of the casualties were caused by one of the trucks, which detonated when the driver, while attempting to escape from security officials, crashed through a barrier and exploded in the Hodan District, destroying a hotel. The intended target of the attack is believed to have been a secure compound housing international agencies and troops. The second blast happened close by, killing two people. A third explosives-laden truck was captured by police.

A suicide truck bombing occurred on 28 October 2017 in Mogadishu, Somalia. Later that day there were two more explosions, one from a suicide bomber's explosive belt. These bombings killed at least 25 people and injured 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American military intervention in Somalia (2007–present)</span> US military intervention against extremist groups in Somalia

Beginning in the late 2000s, the Federal Government of the United States has supported the Federal Government of Somalia in counterterrorism after the September 11th attacks. The Obama administration and the Trump administration increased their support of the Somali government mostly through strikes by drone and fighter aircraft, advisory missions, training, and the provision of intelligence to target the violent extremists al-Shabaab. Two U.S. special operations personnel, two contractors, one US Army soldier, and a CIA paramilitary officer have died during operations in Somalia.

On 23 February 2018, at least 45 people were killed and 36 others injured in two car bombings and a shooting in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab later claimed responsibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 timeline of the Somali Civil War</span>

This is a 2018 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

On September 2, 2018, a suicide car bombing took place in Mogadishu, Somalia. The attack left at least 6 people dead and another 14 were injured.

On 28 February 2019 at least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in three car bombing attacks followed by a siege in Mogadishu. The cars exploded near the Makka Al-Mukarama hotel. The attack happened in Makka Al-Mukarama road which was very busy at the time. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

On 18 January 2020, a suicide car bombing killed four and injured at least 20 others in Afgooye, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Most of the casualties were police officers protecting Turkish contractors building a road. The al-Qaeda-linked extremist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Events in the year 2019 in Somalia.

On 15 June 2021, a suicide bombing occurred in Mogadishu, Somalia. It happened at the General Dhegobadan Military Camp, where the bomber killed 15 army recruits. He was in a queue of recruits, pretending to be one of them.

This is a 2019 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

Events in the year 2023 in Somalia.

References

  1. 1 2 Al Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for Somalia truck bombing that killed 85
  2. ↑ "Somalia Bombing Kills Nearly 80, Raising Fears of Resurgent Militancy". New York Times. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Al Qaeda ally claims responsibility for Somalia blast that killed 90 people". Reuters. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Somalia suicide car bomb attack rocks capital, killing scores". CNN. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "At Least 79 Dead in Truck Bomb Attack in Somalia's Capital". Bloomberg. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  6. ↑ Turkey offers condolence to Somalia over terror attack
  7. ↑ "Bomb attack causes massive casualities[sic] in Somalia, draws condemnation". Xinhua. 28 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  8. ↑ "Somalia car bomb attack death toll rises to 84". Xinhua. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  9. ↑ "Truck bomb kills scores in Mogadishu". The Guardian. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Maruf, Harun (30 December 2019). "Al-Shabab Claims Responsibility for Deadly Bombing in Somali Capital" . Retrieved 31 December 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.