UN and AMISOM deny any staff casualty in Mogadishu bomb explosions
The African Union Mission in Somalia, Amisom and the UN office here have both confirmed none of their staff and soldiers were killed in the Tuesday explosion near the entrance of the Mission’s military base in Mogadishu.
Amisom spokesman Joe Kibet told Goobjoog News the explosion hit a civilian populated zone, some 200 metres from Amisom gate which is also the same gate used by UN staff in Mogadishu.
“The vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, (VBIED) exploded at a distance 200 metres away from our gate. The place is largely a civilian area. None of our staff was killed or injured since the explosion did not exactly hit our gate,” said Kibet.
Kibet said the explosion was likely premature since it seemed to have been targeting the military base but exploded before reaching the gate.
The second explosion exploded near the Amisom Medina gate which is manned by Ugandan under Amisom.
UNSOM staff
United Nations Mission in Somalia, UNSOM spokesman Joseph Contreras has told Goobjoog News all its staff were accounted for. “None of our staff was killed in the attack. All are accounted for,” said Contreras.
Contreras however noted he could not speak for any UN contractors since they are not UN staff. “Regarding contractors, I cannot speak on that because they are not UN staff,” added Contreras.
Earlier reports indicated nine UN staff and three Amisom soldiers were killed in the attack.
Casualty figures
Medina Hospital in Mogadishu has confirmed the death of 13 people and 17 others admitted with various degrees of injuries. Dunia Ali Mohamed, a doctor at the hospital told Goobjoog News five of those injured were in police uniform. “We received 17 people who were injured and 13 bodies. Out of the dead, five were in police uniform and we assume they were police officers,” said Dunia.
Meanwhile Mogadishu police chief Bishar Ali Gedi has said operations at Aden Adde Airport in Mogadishu have not been affected but noted window panes were smashed as a result of the impact of the explosion.
“Operations at the airport have not been affected by the explosions. All flights going and coming are on schedule. The airport facility only suffered window smash out of the bomb impact. There were no gunmen accompanying the suicide bombers,” said Gedi.
Unconventional tactic
Gedi said unlike conventional Al-Shabaab attacks, the militants did not accompany the suicide bombers in the Tuesday attack. In most attacks, Al-Shabaab ramps explosive filled car on target and gunmen follow suit to fire at any resisting force.
The police chief did not however indicate if any police officer was killed.
Amisom and UN offices are located in the same area as the airport, both places highly fortified. The militant group Al-Shabaab which claimed responsibility for today’s attack ambushed the Amisom base in on 25th of December 2014.
The Christmas Day attack claimed the lives of three Amisom soldiers and a contractor at the base.
AMISOM said some of the attackers were wearing Somali national army uniforms when they “breached the base camp around lunch hour and attempted to gain access to critical infrastructure”.
Airline attack
The militant group also claimed responsibility for the attack on Jubba Airlines attack February this year. The aircraft was forced to make a U-turn to Mogadishu airport after an explosive device exploded some 35 kilometres from takeoff sucking out a man suspected to have sneaked in an explosives loaded laptop.
Today’s attack coincides with Jazeera hotel attack last year which claimed 15 lives. The hotel is situated some 800 metres away from today’s attack.
Al-Shababaab also claimed responsibility for the Nasa-Hablod attack 26th of June this year which killed 15 people including a cabinet minister. At least 30 people were injured. Prior to this, the group launched another attack at Ambassador Hotel on June 1st killing 15 people and injuring 53 others.