Minister survives, three guards killed in Kismayo attack

GOOBJOOG NEWS| KISMAYO: Jubbaland’s Minister of Environment Aideed Saleban Hashi Wednesday night survived a bomb attack but lost three bodyguards at his residence in Kismayo.

Sources said an improvised explosive device (IED) suspected to have been planted in one of the rooms used by the bodyguards within the minister’s residence blew up killing the three.

The minister later confirmed the incident noting among the dead personnel were two brothers. He added the room was destroyed.

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The militant group Al-Shabaab through its affiliate media claimed responsibility for the attack which comes barely three days after the militants attempted to kill Jubbaland parliament speaker Abdi Baaleey Hussein.

The militants which also claimed responsibility for Hussein’s attack hurled a grenade at his residence Monday. The speaker escaped unhurt but some of his relatives were injured.

Al-Shabaab has continued a series of targeted killings in Kismayo in recent months.