Somali Parliament attack has taken with it the lives of many on Saturday when a car loaded with explosives blew up. What is now headlining as the Somali Parliament attack occurred near the Parliament building in the Somali capital, according to a police official.
Capt. Mohammed Hussein of the Somali police said the car exploded at a checkpoint where Somali troops stopped it. Hussein added that among the victims of the Somali Parliament attack were soldiers and refugees from an internal refugee camp near the checkpoint.
According to the Associated Press, the Somali Parliament attack began when troops ordered the car's driver out of the vehicle after it stopped on the checkpoint. As the police made the search, explosives were detonated by the driver and took the lives of four people and injured seven children.
Somali militant group Shabab claimed responsibility for the Somali Parliament attack. According to the AP, the group have also recently aimed attacks at members of Parliament.
Though the Shabab did not identify who they intended to hurt from the Somali Parliament attack, some suppose that Somali legislators were the targets as they were conducting a meeting at the Parliament during the time of attack.
The Shabab were reported to have had links to Al Qaeda.
Also in a recent drive-by shooting weeks ago which killed a Somali lawmaker and his bodyguard, the Shabab were also held responsible.
Reports say that the Shabab's targeting of Parliament members, such as the Somali Parliament attack, seems to be a new strategy for the militant group. The Somali Parliament is known as an emerging pillar of democracy in the war-ravaged Somalia.
The Shabab militants have previously targeted members United Nations staff members, government officials and African Union peacekeepers in other attacks.
Apart from the recent Somali Parliament attack, other targets from the group have been in neighboring countries which reportedly includes Kenya and Uganda. Reports say the Shabab have sent troops to Somalia under the African Union's banner of bolstering the Somalia's weak United Nations-backed government.
There was also an attack last month which cost the lives of 65 people. The Shabab also claimed responsibility for this. Last year, the group also attacked an upscale mall in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital where 67 people died.
Meanwhile, the UN Envoy has recently released a statement condemning the Somali Parliament attack, reports All Africa.
Nicholas Kay, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG) condemned the Somali Parliament attack and all other killings claimed by Al-Shabaab's since the holy month of Ramadan began.
SRSG Kay said, 'I condemn this morning's attempted attack on Somalia's Federal Parliament. I commend the bravery of the security forces who lost their lives ensuring the terrorists were thwarted. Al-Shabaab have bombed, assassinated and terrorised Somalis in Mogadishu since the start of the holy month of Ramadan, a month dedicated to prayers and peace. I call on all Somalis to unite and work with the authorities to prevent further attacks and to bring to justice those behind this murderous campaign.'
He added, 'The United Nations is working side by side with the Somali people to build peace and a new, functioning state. We are working actively with the Federal Government, AMISOM and international partners to build strong Somali national security forces to protect and serve all Somali people.'
Somali Parliament attack has taken the lives of many and SRSG Kay offered his sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims, as well as the Federal Parliament of Somalia.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
