Roadside bomb blast targets senior security officer in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The security sector continues to be a target for the relentless extremists in Somalia, with a senior security officer becoming the latest person to narrowly escape from an explosion that targeted his convoy within Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

Somalia's custodial corps chief General Mahad Abdirahman escaped unhurt when a roadside bomb targeted his convoy in Mogadishu on Thursday morning, but it's unclear why the attackers targeted his team, which is in charge of security within the city.

Three people were killed and five hurt in the blast, which comes a few days after Al-Qaida linked group; Al-Shabaab took responsibility for another raid that targeted Turkish contractors working within Mogadishu. The attack left also five people dead and several others injured.

An eyewitness says Thursday's morning blast resulted from a landmine that occurred around the residence of former President Abdikasim along KM4-Tarabunka road in Mogadishu. Traditionally, terrorists have always targeted this road where most security officers are stationed.

No group is yet to take responsibility for the attack but the Al-Shabaab militants are known for such raids, which target senior security officers, government officials, and people believed to be closely working with authorities. At times, innocent civilians are being targeted by the militants.

Since the beginning of this year, the group has carried out at least three major attacks within Somalia. In return, the joint security forces led by the US Africa Command have intensified crackdown against the militants in Lower Shebelle and several other notorious hotspots in the country.

Al-Shabaab still remains a major threat to Somalia's security but the group has considerably lost strongholds such as the Lower Jubba regions which are under the Command of the Kenya Defense Forces. The group is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed Somalia administration.

GAROWE ONLINE