Somalia: Suicide car bombing at a police station in Mogadishu June 22

Event

According to police source, a suicide car bombing targeting a police station killed four people in the Waberi district of the capital Mogadishu, on Thursday, June 22. The attack occurred near the Maka al Mukaram road, which is known to be the busiest street in the capital. Further details may emerge as the situation is ongoing.  Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context

Mogadishu is regularly hit by attacks by Al-Shabaab, which continues to control large zones in the south and center of the country. The group often targets government officials and military infrastructure in a bid to topple the Western- and United Nations-backed government and impose its own strict interpretation of Islam in Somalia.

Advice

Individuals in Mogadishu are advised to avoid the area of the blast and to monitor the situation.

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise their citizens against all travel to Somalia; professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.