Mortar shells hit airport in Baidoa

Al-Shabaab targeted Baidoa Airport with mortar shells on Friday night, the latest in series of attacks by the group which continues guerrilla attacks across large parts of south and central Somalia, residents and the group said Saturday.

Goobjoog News correspondent says some of the motor shells landed on residential houses near the airport, killing one person and leaving behind injures of two other people.

Heavy explosions could be heard by residents in neighborhoods close to the airport, with official sources there confirming the attack.

“The mortars landed inside and around the airport but I don’t know if they casualties” said one resident who lives near the airport.

“There was a mortar attack against the airport last night, several rounds of mortar shells landed, while some hit houses near the airport” said Bashir Hussein, who lives close to the airport.

Mohamed Abdalla, another witness, confirmed there were several loud explosions.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the motor shells saying the Mujahidiin fighters attacked Baidoa Airport which houses soldiers and UN officials.

“Mujahideen targeted dozens of Western intelligence officials and US who are housed in Baidoa Airport with over ten motor shells,” said a statement issued by the group.

This is the first attack in which airport base in Baidoa has come under attack from Al-Shabaab fighters.

Al-Shabaab has carried out a string of similar bombings in the past,  the group claimed the suicide bomb attack on Somalia’s CID headquarters in Mogadishu on 31st July.

Somali National Army backed by the AU troops removed Al-Shabaab fighters from the capital Mogadishu in 2011, but the group tries to undermine peace and stability by staging several attacks in many towns in the south and central Somalia.