Somalia’s military court executes 4 Al-Shabaab members in Baidoa

Somali military court on Monday executed four suspected members of the militant group Al-Shabaab for being behind last year’s bomb attack that killed dozens of lives in the southern Somali town of Baidoa.

The four were convicted of planning and carrying out the bomb attacks on football fans who were watching a match in a restaurant in Baidoa. At least 55 people were killed and more than 60 others injured.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Military court judge Liban Ali Yarow who announced the sentence, said the execution of the four was a big relief since they killed dozens of innocent people.

“This execution today is an act of justice as the criminals have in the past killed dozens of people in bomb explosion,” Yarow said.

In attendance at the site of the execution were National Army commanders and Southwest state administration officials.

Somali military court has often carried out executions against alleged Al-Shabaab fighters who frequently target politicians, people and as well Somali government officials.

Despite their tactical withdrawal from Mogadishu in 2011, the group still controls swath of rural areas in the south and central Somalia as they carry out bomb attacks in towns controlled by Somali government.