Somali lawmaker dies in Mogadishu explosion
A Somali woman reacts near the site of a car bomb in central Mogadishu on March 18, 2013. A Somali lawmaker was killed after a bomb fitted in his vehicle went off as it moved in Mogadishu’s Hamarweyne district, a government official and witnesses said. PHOTO | MOHAMED ABDIWAHAB | FILE
What you need to know:
- Isaq Mohamed Riino, a member of the Somali federal parliament, was seriously injured in the blast and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead, the Somali government official said.
MOGADISHU, Monday
A Somali lawmaker was killed after a bomb fitted in his vehicle went off as it moved in Mogadishu’s Hamarweyne district, a government official and witnesses said.
Isaq Mohamed Riino, a member of the Somali federal parliament, was seriously injured in the blast and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead, the Somali government official said.
“This cowardly attack will not derail the progress made in Mogadishu and across Somalia. The security agencies will investigate this cowardly killing and ensure that those who carried out the attack face justice,” Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said in a statement.
Explosive fitted in car
“We think the bomb, an Improvised Explosive Device, fitted in his car exploded killing him and injuring two passers-by,” police officer Hassan Guule told Xinhua.
The Somali PM praised the lawmaker as a “committed parliamentarian who worked tirelessly to serve the people of Somalia and help rebuild our country.”
Witnesses said that the car was partly destroyed after the bomb went off in the front part of the vehicle killing the MP and injuring another person in the car.
“The explosion was very violent and loud. It was heard all around the district. It shattered the windows and ripped off parts of the front seats of the vehicle where the official was sitting,” Ali Ahmed, a resident of Hamarweyne said.
The latest deadly explosion comes as a crucial meeting on improving security in Somalia is underway in the capital Mogadishu for the second day running.
Somali government officials vowed to tackle insecurity in the capital which has lately been witnessing intermittent explosions and targeted killing of both civilians and government officials.
The attack was claimed by Al-Qaeda-linked militant Al-Shabaab group which has previously carried out similar attacks where bombs were hidden in vehicles of government officials.
Extremists pushed out
The extremist Al-Shabaab group has been pushed out of several key areas in the south and centre of Somalia by Somali government forces and African Union peacekeeping troops, Amisom.
The Qaeda-linked militants vowed to launch guerrilla attacks on Somali government and Amisom targets. (Xinhua)
