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| Militants Attack Presidential Palace in Somalia | Militants Attack Presidential Palace in Somalia |
| (7 months later) | |
| MOGADISHU, Somalia — In a deadly attack on the heart of the Somali government, multiple explosions and a firefight erupted on Friday near the presidential palace in Mogadishu, killing 12 people, nine of them militants, officials said. The Shabab, the militant Somali Islamist group, claimed responsibility. | |
| In a statement, the African Union Mission in Somalia said the attack began with a car bomb that went off at the entrance to the palace, followed by militants who tried to shoot their way into the compound, where the president and the speaker of Parliament live and have their offices. | In a statement, the African Union Mission in Somalia said the attack began with a car bomb that went off at the entrance to the palace, followed by militants who tried to shoot their way into the compound, where the president and the speaker of Parliament live and have their offices. |
| At a news conference at the palace, known as Villa Somalia, Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the minister for national security, said that among the dead were Gen. Nur Shirbow, a former deputy intelligence chief; Mohamud Hersi Abdulle, the permanent secretary for the office of the prime minister; and a Somali soldier. The bodies of seven of the militants were on display at the news conference; the other two had been destroyed by the car bomb. | At a news conference at the palace, known as Villa Somalia, Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the minister for national security, said that among the dead were Gen. Nur Shirbow, a former deputy intelligence chief; Mohamud Hersi Abdulle, the permanent secretary for the office of the prime minister; and a Somali soldier. The bodies of seven of the militants were on display at the news conference; the other two had been destroyed by the car bomb. |
| The Somali president, Hassan Sheik Mohamud, was unharmed. In a statement, he said that the work of rebuilding a unified country and improving security nationwide “will in no way be deterred by today’s attack” and that the Shabab would be defeated. | The Somali president, Hassan Sheik Mohamud, was unharmed. In a statement, he said that the work of rebuilding a unified country and improving security nationwide “will in no way be deterred by today’s attack” and that the Shabab would be defeated. |
| “An act of terrorism, however unspeakable, does not hide the truth that this is a marginal group on the brink of extinction,” Mr. Mohamud said. Referring to the African Union Mission, he added, “The military campaign we are fighting with brave Somali and Amisom soldiers will eliminate our enemies.” | “An act of terrorism, however unspeakable, does not hide the truth that this is a marginal group on the brink of extinction,” Mr. Mohamud said. Referring to the African Union Mission, he added, “The military campaign we are fighting with brave Somali and Amisom soldiers will eliminate our enemies.” |
| Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by an exchange of gunfire and then other explosions around Villa Somalia. Ambulances were on the scene collecting the wounded, who included a local reporter for Kulmiye Radio. | Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by an exchange of gunfire and then other explosions around Villa Somalia. Ambulances were on the scene collecting the wounded, who included a local reporter for Kulmiye Radio. |
| A lawmaker, Salman Mohamed Sheik Dahir, who was slightly injured, said he had been in a mosque at the center of the compound where the president usually prays when the attack began. “We were in the middle of the Friday prayers and the president had not yet come down,” he told local reporters. | A lawmaker, Salman Mohamed Sheik Dahir, who was slightly injured, said he had been in a mosque at the center of the compound where the president usually prays when the attack began. “We were in the middle of the Friday prayers and the president had not yet come down,” he told local reporters. |
| Ali Mohamud Raghe, a spokesman for the Shabab, said the group claimed responsibility for the attack. “The attack was well planned, aimed to kill or catch the leader of the infidels and carried out successfully by the mujahedeen,” Mr. Raghe said, according to local media, quoting from Al Andalus Radio, the Shabab’s official radio. | Ali Mohamud Raghe, a spokesman for the Shabab, said the group claimed responsibility for the attack. “The attack was well planned, aimed to kill or catch the leader of the infidels and carried out successfully by the mujahedeen,” Mr. Raghe said, according to local media, quoting from Al Andalus Radio, the Shabab’s official radio. |
| The government recently announced that it would attack Shabab strongholds and clear the remaining areas where the Shabab dominate in Somalia. | The government recently announced that it would attack Shabab strongholds and clear the remaining areas where the Shabab dominate in Somalia. |
| Three suicide bombers tried to assassinate Mr. Mohamud in September 2012 two days after his election, as he was holding a news conference at a hotel with the visiting Kenyan foreign minister. Mr. Mohamud was not harmed in that attack, but an African Union soldier was killed. | Three suicide bombers tried to assassinate Mr. Mohamud in September 2012 two days after his election, as he was holding a news conference at a hotel with the visiting Kenyan foreign minister. Mr. Mohamud was not harmed in that attack, but an African Union soldier was killed. |
| The attack on Villa Somalia came a week after at least five people were killed when a car loaded with explosives blew up near the entrance to the international airport in Mogadishu, an attack believed to be aimed at a passing United Nations convoy. The Shabab also claimed responsibility for that attack. | The attack on Villa Somalia came a week after at least five people were killed when a car loaded with explosives blew up near the entrance to the international airport in Mogadishu, an attack believed to be aimed at a passing United Nations convoy. The Shabab also claimed responsibility for that attack. |
| The Shabab came to prominence as a nationalist movement combating the United States-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in 2006. The group seized control of large parts of the country, including Mogadishu. | The Shabab came to prominence as a nationalist movement combating the United States-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in 2006. The group seized control of large parts of the country, including Mogadishu. |
| Somali troops and African Union forces have forced the militants back in recent years, but for all their territorial gains have been unable to stem the tide of terrorist and guerrilla-style attacks. The Shabab even announced a ban recently on the use of the Internet in Mogadishu and areas under their control. | Somali troops and African Union forces have forced the militants back in recent years, but for all their territorial gains have been unable to stem the tide of terrorist and guerrilla-style attacks. The Shabab even announced a ban recently on the use of the Internet in Mogadishu and areas under their control. |
| The tactics used in Friday’s attack have become all too familiar to security personnel in Somalia. On Jan. 1, a similar assault killed about six people at the Jazeera hotel in Mogadishu. Last June, militants detonated a pickup truck in front of the United Nations compound and stormed it with gunmen, killing at least 15 people. | The tactics used in Friday’s attack have become all too familiar to security personnel in Somalia. On Jan. 1, a similar assault killed about six people at the Jazeera hotel in Mogadishu. Last June, militants detonated a pickup truck in front of the United Nations compound and stormed it with gunmen, killing at least 15 people. |
| Police stations, the court complex in Mogadishu and restaurants popular with peacekeepers and government officials have all been targeted. The Shabab demonstrated that they could project power beyond Somalia’s borders when militants armed with AK-47 rifles carried out a bloody siege at the Westgate mall in Nairobi, Kenya, in September, killing more than 60 people. | Police stations, the court complex in Mogadishu and restaurants popular with peacekeepers and government officials have all been targeted. The Shabab demonstrated that they could project power beyond Somalia’s borders when militants armed with AK-47 rifles carried out a bloody siege at the Westgate mall in Nairobi, Kenya, in September, killing more than 60 people. |
| In November, the United Nations Security Council authorized an increase of more than 4,000 African peacekeepers in Somalia, bringing the total number there to more than 22,000 while also expanding logistical support for the fight against the militants. | In November, the United Nations Security Council authorized an increase of more than 4,000 African peacekeepers in Somalia, bringing the total number there to more than 22,000 while also expanding logistical support for the fight against the militants. |
| The Pentagon in December sent a small team of uniformed military advisers to Somalia to help provide logistics, planning and communications assistance to Somali and other African forces combating the group. They are the first American troops there since 1993, when 18 Americans were killed in an episode known as “Black Hawk Down.” | The Pentagon in December sent a small team of uniformed military advisers to Somalia to help provide logistics, planning and communications assistance to Somali and other African forces combating the group. They are the first American troops there since 1993, when 18 Americans were killed in an episode known as “Black Hawk Down.” |
| After Friday’s attack, Nicholas Kay, the United Nations’ special representative for Somalia, said in a statement: “This is another desperate and criminal act which does nothing but harm to the people of Somalia. The Somali people are tired of shootings, bombings and killings. It’s time for a new chapter in Somalia’s history and we cannot allow a slide back at this critical time.” | After Friday’s attack, Nicholas Kay, the United Nations’ special representative for Somalia, said in a statement: “This is another desperate and criminal act which does nothing but harm to the people of Somalia. The Somali people are tired of shootings, bombings and killings. It’s time for a new chapter in Somalia’s history and we cannot allow a slide back at this critical time.” |
| Villa Somalia said on Twitter: “Don’t be fooled by this ‘media spectacular.’ This is another act of desperation from a dying animal.” | Villa Somalia said on Twitter: “Don’t be fooled by this ‘media spectacular.’ This is another act of desperation from a dying animal.” |