An ex-MP was one of two suicide car bombers who carried out
Tuesday's deadly attacks in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, militants have
said.
Salah Nuh Ismail, 53, was among those who killed 13 people in the
suicide attacks near the city's main airport, the al-Shabab group said.
Also known as Salah Badbado, the former member of parliament quit the Somali parliament in 2010 after denouncing lawmakers as "infidels".
At least 13 people were killed in the two car bomb attacks near an
entrance to the airport in Mogadishu, where there is also a base for
African Union (AU) peacekeepers. Five others were injured, most of the
dead were UN contractors who operate near the scene of the explosions,
Police chief Bishar Gedi told reporters
Local journalists said one of the bombs was detonated by a suicide
attacker near a checkpoint. Another blast hit the airport's perimeter
wall. Those killed were believed to include security guards at the
checkpoint.
Al- Shabaab in a statement said it was a suicide attack by its militants. "The
two explosions were carried out by two brave Mujahedeen suicide bombers
and they have targeted two different locations where the so-called
AMISOM peacekeepers are stationed," it said, referring to the African Union.
Al-Shabab is fighting to oust Somalia's weak internationally-backed government. The large airport area in Mogadishu is a secure "green zone" for UN operations, the 22,000-strong African Union peace force and foreign embassies.
The militants were forced out of Mogadishu five years ago by
African Union (AU) and government troops, but they have continued to
carry out bombings in the city. It has been increasing its attacks ahead
of planned elections in Somalia.
Hotels have been attacked by car bombs and armed assault teams over the past few weeks.
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