A suicide bombing near a teashop close to the General Kahiye Police Academy in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, claimed the lives of at least eight people on Thursday.
Several others were injured in the blast, which has left the city reeling and raised fresh concerns about the state of security in the capital.
Among the victims is a veteran lyricist who had loyally served Somalia’s police force for over four decades. Also killed in the explosion was a police officer. While the initial reports detail these losses, security officials have yet to provide an official confirmation of the final death toll.
The blast occurred just hours after a group of new police officers had been granted access to the General Kahiye Academy, a heavily fortified training facility in Mogadishu’s green zone.
These recruits were preparing to begin their training at the academy, which is considered one of the most secure areas in the city, making the attack all the more concerning.
Eyewitnesses report that the bomber somehow managed to infiltrate the vicinity, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the multiple security checkpoints that surround the area. How the attacker managed to evade these layers of security remains unclear, and authorities are scrambling to piece together the sequence of events that allowed such a breach.
The militant group Al-Shabaab, notorious for its deadly assaults on civilian and government targets, quickly claimed responsibility for the bombing. In a statement, the group alleged that the attack resulted in the deaths of 15 soldiers, including several police officers, and left 12 others injured.
While Al-Shabaab’s claims often differ from official reports, the group’s involvement in the attack has been confirmed.
This latest bombing underscores the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab, despite ongoing efforts by Somali forces, with international support, to weaken the group’s influence.
Over the years, Al-Shabaab has carried out a series of high-profile attacks across Somalia, particularly in Mogadishu, where government institutions and security forces have often been the targets.
