Somalia govt condemns terrorist attack on Prime Minister’s home 29 Jan 29, 2013 - 11:43:51 PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia Jan. 29, 2013 (Garowe Online) - Somali government officials have condemned a terrorist attack on the home of Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in Mogadishu, which killed one soldier, Garowe Online reports.
On Tuesday, a suicide bomber targeted Prime Minister Shirdon’s home in the Villa Somalia compound, but soldiers at a checkpoint stopped the suicide bomber from reaching his intended target.
Somali Information Minister Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi, speaking to reporters at the Prime Minister’s office, said one soldier was killed and three soldiers wounded in the suicide bombing.
“The suicide bomber was formerly a member of Somali intelligence agency, who previously defected from Al Shabaab,” said Minister Elmoge.
In an online statement, Al Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attack targeting Prime Minister Shirdon’s home and vowed “more attacks”.
Minister Elmoge said that Somali government forces “demonstrated their preparedness by preventing the attack” while sending condolences to the family of the deceased soldier.
In September 2012, within two days of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s election, two suicide bombers exploded themselves outside of the new president’s hotel residence in Mogadishu.
It was the first attack targeting Somali Prime Minister Shirdon since he was nominated to in October 2012.
GAROWE ONLINE
