Hiiraan Online
Thursday, June 18, 2015
ADADO (HOL)---Somali troops shot dead three gunmen who tried to force their way into a political conference in central Somali town after a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehile into the gate of the corridor.
Military officials said that the attackers opened fire on the troops guarding the venue for the central regions’ state before troops repulsed the attack.
The Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab group claimed the responsibility for the attack which comes on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Al-Shabab often step up attacks during Ramadan as the Somali government started deploying more troops across the capital which has seen multiple deadly attacks by Al-Shabab which vowed more attacks during the fasting month.
“Today Somali security forces dealt terrorists another significant blow, defeating a well-planned attack by them.” One security official told HOL by phone from Adado.
Police said the vehicle blast was followed by gunfight attack. However, the apparently coordinated assault appears to have killed no one except two of the attackers. There were no immediate reports of any additional deaths or injuries.
Alshabab has vowed to step up attacks during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.