Mortar attack targeting Somalia's presidential palace wounds at least 5

MOGADISHU, Somalia

At least five people including two high school students and a woman were wounded when a mortar targeting Somalia’s presidential palace rocked the Somali capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, an official said.

Osman Mohamed, a security official in Mogadishu, told Anadolu over the phone that several mortar shells that they believed were aimed at the presidential palace hit the Warta Nabada and Hamarwayne districts of the capital, wounding at least five civilians, including two students about 14-16 years old.

“I can’t tell you if some shells landed inside the presidential palace but three landed near the national theatre, which is very close to the presidential compound,” he said.

“A school in the Harmarwayne district was also hit, and mortar explosions were heard in parts of the capital,” he added.

Residents who spoke to Anadolu said they have seen wounded people who were transported by ambulance and paramedics to local hospitals for treatment.

Al-Shabaab terrorists claimed the attack, saying it had targeted the president’s residence with three shells landing inside the state house. It said it had also targeted the Information Ministry building and the parliament meeting hall.

The attack comes days after al-Shabaab terrorists attacked the Mogadishu City Hall, claiming the lives of at least five civilians.

In related news, at least 39 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed and dozens wounded in an operation against the al-Qaeda-affiliated group in the country’s Mudug province on Monday.

Somali infantry commander Gen. Mohamed Tahlil told reporters that the operation was carried out with support from Somalia’s international security partners, without specifying a particular country.

“Today’s operation that took place in villages within the town of Haradhere has devastated the enemy. We counted at least 39 terrorists’ bodies,” Tahlil said.

He said over 50 others were wounded during the operation, including a foreign fighter.

Haradhere is a strategic coastal town located 491 kilometers (305 miles) northeast of the capital Mogadishu. The town was liberated by the army from the al-Shabaab terrorists.

Last October two car bombs exploded at the Education Ministry in Mogadishu, killing at least 121 people and injuring over 300, making it the deadliest bombing in the country in years.