By Staff writer | Al Arabiya News Friday, 21 February 2014
Al-Qaeda-linked militants attacked the Somali presidential palace
compound on Friday, blasting a hole in the perimeter wall with a car
bomb and engaging in a fierce gun battle with African peacekeepers,
Reuters reported.
The United Nations envoy to Somalia said, via Twitter, that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (pictured) is unharmed. (Reuters)
Al-Shabaab claimed the attack on the compound in Mogadishu while the
United Nations envoy to Somalia said, via Twitter, that President Hassan
Sheikh Mohamud is unharmed.
“Our commandos have attacked the so-called presidential palace in order
to kill or arrest those who who are inside,” al-Shabaab military
spokesman Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab told Agence France-Presse.
“We are still holding some of the buildings and the fighting is continuing. The commandos wanted to seize all of it,” he said.
Onlookers described the attack as “large,” as information on causualties is yet to be disseminated.
“There is a large attack on the presidential palace. Initial reports are
that a suicide car bomber hit the gate and exploded, then men with guns
followed,” police officer Mohammad Ali told AFP.
“Security forces are dealing with terrorists who blew up a car... and
there is exchange of fire. We have no details of the casualties but of
course there are casualties,” said Ahmed Moalim Adan, a security
official near the scene of the attack.
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