At least 16 die in gun battle after militants storm Somalia court

Nine al-Shabab militants, most wearing suicide vests, stormed Somalia’s main court complex yesterday while the Supreme Court was in session, firing a barrage of bullets during a running gun battle with security forces that lasted two hours, officials said. A preliminary death toll stood at 16, including all nine attackers.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Apr 2013, 09:30 BST

The assault was the most serious in the city since al-Shabab militants were forced out of the capital in August 2011. Al-Shabab controls far less territory today than in years past, and its influence appears to be on the decline, but the attack proved the militants are still capable of pulling off well-planned and audacious assaults.

The attack on the Supreme Court complex began at about 12:30pm, starting running battles with police and army forces. Two bomb blasts were heard and gunmen were seen on a court building roof firing shots. Police officer Hassan Abdulahi said he saw five dead bodies lying at the court.

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The militants took an unknown number of hostages during the siege. Many other government workers and civilians in the court complex – a labyrinth of buildings and rooms – hid while fearing for their lives.

Western officials knew militants had been planning something major. The British Foreign Office on Friday released a travel warning for Somalia that warned of a high threat of terrorism. “We continue to believe that terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks in Mogadishu,” it said.

The complex and sustained nature of the assault on the court system suggested militants hoped to inflict severe casualties. Later, a suicide car bomber rammed a vehicle carrying Turkish citizens.

On a Twitter feed believed to belong to the militants, al-Shabab appeared to take credit for the attack. A posting said five militants from the “Martyrdom Brigade” took part in the “daring” attack.

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Interior Minister Abdikarim Hussein Guled said nine militants attacked the court complex, and that six of them detonated suicide vests. Three others were shot and killed during the assault, he said. Guled said he couldn’t immediately provide an overall death toll that included government officials and civilians.

Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said the “pointless and pathetic act” would have no effect on the government’s commitment to progress. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia is moving forward but the enemy of Somalia and “of all mankind” is trying to prevent the country from prospering.

“I want the terrorist to know that our country, Somalia, is moving and will keep moving forward and will not be prevented to achieve the ultimate noble goal, a peaceful and stable Somalia, by a few desperate terrorists,” he said.

Related topics:Supreme CourtWestern