Terrorists Storm Government Office in Somalia’s Capital; 5 Dead

Terrorists Storm Government Office in Somalia’s Capital; 5 Dead
Somalia security carry away the dead body of someone who was killed in clash between attackers and soldiers at the Banadir regional administration in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Jan. 22, 2023. Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:

MOGADISHU, Somalia—Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists stormed a regional government office in Somalia’s capital Sunday, and five civilians were killed, the government said.

The founder of the Aamin ambulance service, Abdulkadir Adan, told The Associated Press his team collected 16 wounded people from the scene.

The al-Shabab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault on the Banadir Regional Administration headquarters in Mogadishu.

A staff member at the headquarters said the attack began with a suicide bombing before gunmen entered and exchanged fire with security guards. The staffer, Mustafa Abdulle, said most of the workers were rescued by security forces.

Al-Shabab often carries out attacks in Mogadishu. The federal government last year declared “total war” on the terrorist group and has retaken a number of communities the fighters had controlled in central and southern Somalia.

By Omar Faruk