Garowe attack

{{Short description|2015 bombing of a convoy by Islamist militants in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia}}

{{Infobox civilian attack

| image = 2015 04 30 USG Visits in Garowe, Puntland.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Atul Khare, UN Under-Secretary-General, visiting the site of the suicide attack on May 1, 2015

| map = {{Infobox mapframe|width=250|height=180}}

| title = 2015 Garowe attack

| location = Garowe, Puntland, Somalia

| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q133260535|region:SO-NU_type:event|display=inline,title}}

| partof = the Somali Civil War (2009–present)

| date = {{Start date and age|2015|04|20|df=yes}}

| time =

| timezone = UTC+03:00

| type = Bombing

| fatalities = 7-10

| injuries = 8

| victim =

| perps = Al-Shabaab

| perp =

| susperps =

| susperp =

| weapons = Remote control bomb

| numparts =

| numpart =

| dfens =

| dfen =

}}

The Garowe attack was a bombing of a UN van in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia. Between 7 and 10 people were killed, including the attacker and four UNICEF workers. The Al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the blast. The Puntland administration subsequently appointed a governmental committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the attack, and apprehended over a dozen suspects.

Overview

On 20 April 2015, militants planted a bomb in a UN van in the northeastern city of Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland regional state of Somalia. According to police Colonel Ali Salad, at least seven workers were killed in the ensuing blast, including three Somali nationals, two Kenyans, one Afghan and one Ugandan. Four of the slain officials were UNICEF workers.{{cite news|title=Al-Shabab Bombs UN Van in Somalia, 4 UNICEF Workers Killed|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/police-bomb-explodes-inside-bus-staff-somalia-30437926|accessdate=20 April 2015|agency=AP|date=20 April 2015}} Police commander Ahmed Abdullahi Samatar suggested that the attacker was among the dead.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32377965|title=Somalia attack: Bomb kills UN workers in Garowe|work=BBC News |date=20 April 2015 |accessdate=20 April 2015}} Additionally, UN Special Representative for Somalia Nicholas Kay indicated that two guards were among the dead.{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-somalia-security-blast-idUKKBN0NB0FS20150420|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123175729/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-somalia-security-blast-idUKKBN0NB0FS20150420|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 23, 2016|title=At least nine killed in bomb attack on U.N. vehicle in Somalia|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=20 April 2015}} Unconfirmed witness reports suggested that 10 people died. Four Somali nationals, one American, one Sierra Leonean, one Kenyan and one Ugandan were also injured. Police officer Yusuf Ali indicated that the explosive device was lodged under a seat in the vehicle and detonated via remote control.

The Al-Shabaab militant group later claimed responsibility for the attack through its radio station. President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud,{{cite news|title=We grieve with the UN family and condemn the horrific brutality of al Shabaab|url=http://goobjoog.com/english/?p=13078|accessdate=20 April 2015|agency=Goobjoog|date=20 April 2015}} Ambassador Kay,{{cite news|title=UN Special Representative for Somalia condemns attack on UN vehicle in Garowe|url=http://goobjoog.com/english/?p=13072|accessdate=20 April 2015|agency=Goobjoog|date=20 April 2015}} and Puntland Vice President Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar all condemned the bombing and sent their condolences to the families of the deceased.{{cite news|title=Somalia: Puntland names committee after UN bus attack|url=http://www.garoweonline.com/page/show/post/2359/somalia-puntland-names-committee-after-un-bus-attack|accessdate=20 April 2015|agency=Garowe Online|date=20 April 2015|archive-date=27 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427143037/http://www.garoweonline.com/page/show/post/2359/somalia-puntland-names-committee-after-un-bus-attack|url-status=dead}} Mohamud also suggested that such attacks against small, soft targets demonstrated that Al-Shabaab was near its end, and urged vigilance and cooperation with the Puntland security forces to ensure that the nationwide reconstruction and development process continued unabated. Omar likewise described the blast as futile and indicated that it would not derail the region's stability. The Puntland administration subsequently appointed a five-member governmental committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the attack.

On 25 April, Puntland police apprehended over a dozen individuals in connection with the UN van attack. According to Nugal province commander Colonel Ahmed Abdullahi Samatar, the suspects were being interrogated at the police headquarters. He also indicated that the results of the probe had been entrusted to an oversight committee, that the security situation was stable, and that new community policing centers were scheduled to be established.{{cite news|title=Somalia: Suspects arrested over rare deadly attack on UN vehicle|url=http://goobjoog.com/english/?p=12416|accessdate=25 April 2015|agency=Garowe Online|date=25 April 2015}}