3 Somali ministers killed by hotel suicide bomb

At least 19 people have been killed including three government ministers after an explosion ripped through the Shamo Hotel in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, during a graduation ceremony.

A suicide bomber disguised as a woman carried out Thursday's attack at the hotel during a crowded graduation ceremony for medical students from a local university, Dahir Mohamud Gelle, the Somali information minister, said.

Witnesses said the attack appeared to have targeted government officials.

It is the deadliest attack to hit Mogadishu for several months. No-one has yet claimed responsibility.

Of the three ministers killed in the blast, one was a woman - Qamar Aden Ali, the health minister. Ibrahim Hassan Adow, the minister for higher education, and Ahmed Abdullahi Wayel, the minister for education, also died.

Also among the dead were two journalists and two professors. At least 50 students were reportedly injured.

Saleban Olad Roble, the Somali sports minister, was also injured in the explosion.

Thursday's attack is the second time this year members of government have been killed in a suicide bombing.

In June, the national security minister died in a suicide bombing that killed at least 24 people. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for that attack.

Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston's reports.

This package contains images that may disturb or offend some viewers.


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[rolftony]

How come that muslims are involved in so many conflicts? This is supposed to be the "religion of peace".

From what I can see; where's islam, there's violence. You can't deny that pattern.

[grbradsk]

Islam is the truest expression of religion: Hatred and fear of knowledge, against advancing the human condition, cruel, controlling and vengeful.

May we see the day when these old religions themselves die -- that day is coming.

[MrZakouch]

i dont think somali should even be alowed to have land. somalian's brind conflict everywhere they go

[shahid0123]

watch my video Try And Not Laugh This Is A Serrious Video and you get £5 free when you watch

[thefalseprophetbeast]

ou be free of the muslim isnt free the holy one in the heavens wants to set somalia free choose the free gift of eternal life thru jesus christ the son means god came in form of jesus and revealed himself to man, angel moroni went to prophet joseph smith false like angel gabriel went to muhammed false and when you do the hajj (hell) dont point your right hand at allah who really a beast ont fall for this satanic system jesus loves you choose him an eternal life hereafter bye

[thefalseprophetbeast]

the holy scriptures in bible revaltion from the true god (jesus) god in disgusise said this

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.(blackstone) These both were cast

[thefalseprophetbeast]

dont you know why your country like this you people have been deluded your lives a full of trouble they devil has folled you it was said the spirit-of the anti christ (islam) (satan) will come

and he did compared to kenya who values freedom

do really want to go to mecca and take 666 on your right hand and ertanal damnation those before you

[75pounder]

just shut the fuck up ur retarted

[dameen72]

Now why is that you here suicide bombings in market places in pakistan and somalia all of a sudden? It is in order to turn the people against the resistance fighters that's all. And people whouldn't be so quick to believe everything they here on the news.

[dameen72]

People need to understand that this is the new way of gaining public opinion and hate towards your enemy, just like the al-Shabab spokesman said: "The bombings will be carried out in order to create a pretext to launch a campaign against Al-Shabab...They have tried it in Algeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan We warn of these disasters. They want to target Bakara Market and mosques, then use that to malign us."

[dameen72]

"We have discovered that US agencies are going to launch suicide bombings in public places in Mogadishu," he told reporters. "They have tried it in Algeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan We warn of these disasters. They want to target Bakara Market and mosques, then use that to malign us."

[dameen72]

There are also allegations of US-sponsored bomb plots in the capital.

The bombings will be carried out in order to create a pretext to launch a campaign against Al-Shabab, a spokesman of the group, Sheikh Ali Mohammed Rage, told Reuters.