Condemnation for attack wounding seven journalists in Somalia

27 Jan 2017

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has expressed shock and disgust at a terror attack in Mogadishu in which a hotel in the city centre was targeted by two detonated explosive-laden cars. Several innocent people were killed while many more were wounded.

Image by 123RF

In this terror attack, seven journalists who came to cover the attack were wounded when a second device apparently dentonated.

Among the wounded journalists who were admitted to Madina hospital were: Abdulkadir Abdullahi Ga'al (HornCable TV), Farah Abdi Warsame (AP news agency), Abdulkadir Abdullahi (Radio Kulmiye), Yusuf Jama Abdullahi (Aljazeera TV) and Mohamed Abdiwahab (AFP news agency).

Journalists were wounded by a second car bomb which exploded some 15 minutes after the first suicide bomber.

“We condemn the continued vile attacks against civilians. Given that the journalists were wounded by the explosion of the second car, today's attack was also designed to hurt journalists who came to the site to do their jobs,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

NUSOJ says journalists have suffered a heavy toll in such terror and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, and called on journalists to take extra precautions for their safety in such bloody and cruel attacks.

“We wish the wounded journalists a speedy recovery from their injuries,” added Osman.

This statement was originally published on nusoj.org on 25 January 2017.