Three journalists were killed and at least four others were wounded in a horrifying suicide attack at a Mogadishu restaurant frequented by journalists.
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – 20 September 2012 – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns, in the strongest terms possible, the killing and wounding of journalists in a horrifying suicide attack in a Mogadishu restaurant frequented by journalists.
Two suicide bombers walked into “The Village” restaurant, at the Mothers’ House – a well-known building near National Theater – on Thursday evening after Maghrib prayer (just after sunset). The two suicide bombers reportedly blew themselves up, killing and wounding those who were sitting around them.
The journalists who were killed in this attack were Liban Ali Nur, Head of News at Somali National TV, Abdisatar Daher Sabriye, Head of News at Radio Mogadishu, and Abdirahman Yasin Ali, Director of Radio Hamar (Voice of Democracy).
At least four journalists were wounded in this attack. The injured journalists are Mohamed Hussein, aka Gentlemen, a reporter for Somali National TV, Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Suldan of Radio Kulmiye, Abdirisaq Shine of Radio Kulmiye, and Nure Mohamed Ali of Radio Kulmiye. The wounded journalists were all admitted into the Madina and Daru Shifa hospitals.
“We strongly condemn this gratuitous and bloodthirsty attack on journalists. We are absolutely convinced that this was a targeted attack on journalists,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.
Al-Shabaab has immediately claimed the responsibility of this “cruel attack,” stating that they wanted to target journalists and send them a message.
NUSOJ is outraged as the number of journalists and other media workers killed since January this year reaches 12. “2012 has sadly turned today [into] the single deadliest year for journalists in the history of our country” declared Osman.
