MOGADISHU, Somalia — A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in the courtyard of a police training school in Mogadishu on Thursday, killing seven people, including both civilians and police personnel, and injuring six others, according to a report released by the Somali police.
The attack occurred in the afternoon at the Bulusiyo School, situated in a shantytown where the presence of large trees might have muffled the sound of the explosion, which was still audible across parts of the city. The police noted that the timing coincided with a period when many soldiers were moving about within the camp.
This incident follows recent violence in the region, with the Al-Shabaab militant group previously attacking a checkpoint in the Garasbaaley district of the Banadir region, indicating a continued threat from the insurgents who seem intent on demonstrating their operational capabilities within the capital.
The strategic location of the blast, targeting a place associated with the security forces, suggests Al-Shabaab’s tactic of exerting pressure on the government by targeting symbols of state security, often at the cost of civilian lives. The group, although pushed out of Mogadishu in past military offensives, continues to conduct attacks in an attempt to destabilize the region.
The Somali police have not confirmed Al-Shabaab’s involvement in this specific attack, but the pattern mirrors previous operations claimed by the group. The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in Somalia, where such attacks frequently occur despite efforts to enhance security in urban centers like Mogadishu.
HORN LIFE
