57-year-old former Somali politician behind Mogadishu UN and Airport suicide attack

57-year-old former Somali politician behind Mogadishu UN and Airport suicide attack

Al Shabaab jihadist group confirmed that one of the bombers in the twin explosions yesterday, July 26, near the airport in Mogadishu, was 57-year-old former Somali MP, Salah Badbado. 

Babado was member of the Somali Federal Parliament in the transitional government from 2000 to 2004. He was representing his constituency in Sana region before defecting to the Islamist group in 2010

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.

AMISOM troops were deployed to Somalia in 2007 to defend the government against attacks by the Islamist group. The Shabaab were forced out of the capital five years ago but continue to carry out regular attacks on military, government and civilian targets.

In recent months they have claimed attacks on bases of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as well as civilian targets including hotels.