Bombers disguised explosives as animal feeds before hitting Amisom base-Police

Al-Shabaab suicide bombers disguised explosives as animal feeds and managed to drive through a market before ramming into an African Union forces base in central Somalia’s town of Beledweyne, a senior police commander has told Goobjoog News.

Col Isaaq Ali Abdulle, Hiiraan region police commander said the militants drove unsuspected with the aim of hitting a military base run by the Djiboutian contingent under Amisom.

“The militants disguised their weapons as hay and managed to drive through the market without raising any suspicions.  They drove to the Amisom base and rammed into the gates causing huge explosions,” said Abdulle.

The police chief said they lost one soldier and another one was injured. The explosions destroyed houses nearby, added Abdulle.

Goobjoog News correspondent in the region reports two Djiboutian soldiers were killed and two others were injured. One civilian and two others were injured.

Amisom confirmed the attack noting that a vehicle borne improvised explosive device, VBIED exploded at the gate followed by a fire fight by ten suspected Al-Shabaab fighters. All the attackers were killed, Amisom added in a tweet.

The force said the situation was under control after reinforcement from nearby base.

Meanwhile Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condoled with families of those killed and to the government of Djibouti whose soldiers were killed in the attack.

The attack came barely eight hours after another deadly attack in Kenya’s Mandera County which claimed 12 lives. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the 2am killings of civilians said to be non- locals.

Kenyan’s Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said the attackers launched an IED destroying part of the guest house killing some of the occupants. The attackers shot the other occupants who are said to have been at the town to perform set books at local secondary schools.