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Three people were wounded by a roadside bomb in Ajuke Village near the Panorama Hotel in Bosaso. One of the wounded was the driver of the targeted vehicle; the other two wounded were local women who ran stalls. Their names have not been released. This is not the first Improvised Explosive Device used against the government, but it is the first minor attack on a vehicle. This would suggest that militant Islamist group al-Shabaab has been able to move supplies, technology, personnel and installers to the most northern city in Somalia.
The Land Cruiser was actually being driven by a local African Oil employee on his way to pick up staff and the tinted windows made it difficult to identify the occupants. The wounds were minor and mostly from broken glass.
Vice President Abdi Samad Ali Shire condemned the attack during a Sunday morning meeting with traditional elders in the president’s House in Bosaso.
Eyewitnesses told Somalia Report that the explosion destroyed three other small cars and shops, and Puntland police arrested suspects during operations in the village. Officials believe the IED was remote-controlled and meant for a government official. The Land Cruiser that was damaged was recently used by Puntland officials.
The Mayor of Bosaso, Mohamud Beldaje, blames al-Shabaab members hiding in Puntland. The mayor told Somalia Report that they had captured some members of the group in Bosaso.
He pointed out that they are enemy of Puntland and warned people to guard against those who are jeopardizing the security of the city.