February 2022 Beledweyne bombing
| February 2022 Beledweyne bombing | |
|---|---|
| Location | Beledweyne, Somalia |
| Date | 19 February 2022 |
| Target | civilians |
Attack type | suicide bombing |
| Deaths | 15 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 12+ |
On 19 February, 2022, an al-Shabaab suicide bomber killed 14 people at a restaurant in Beledweyne, Somalia.[1][2]
Background
The Islamist militant group al-Shabaab – the Somali branch of al-Qaeda – began their insurgency during the 2006–2009 phase of the Somali Civil War. [3]They took part in battles in Beledweyne, Hiran, Hirshabelle State in 2008, 2010 and 2011[4]. In 2009, they carried out a suicide car bombing at a hotel there, killing 57 people[5]. In 2013, they carried out suicide attacks there at a restaurant and a police station.[6]
Bombing
During the morning of 19 February, 2022, a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in a restaurant in Beledweyene.[1][2] It killed 14 people – including a candidate in the same month's election – and injured at least another 12.[1][2] On the same day, al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.[1][2]
Aftermath
On 23 March 2022, two more suicide bombings killed over 30 people. The first one killed Amina Mohamed Abdi and many of her bodyguards, while the second was a car bombing against a hospital in Beledweyne.[7][8]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "At least 13 people killed by suicide blast in central Somalia". Reuters. 2022-02-19. Archived from the original on 2023-08-23. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ a b c d Mogadishu, Agence France-Presse in (2022-02-19). "Suicide bombing kills 14 in Somali restaurant". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ "Al-Shabaab | Somali Militant Group, Terrorism & Insurgency | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2026-01-03. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ Center, Combating Terrorism (2013-03-27). "Al-Shabab's Tactical and Media Strategies in the Wake of its Battlefield Setbacks". Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Al-Shabaab | Council on Foreign Relations". www.cfr.org. 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Somali African Union Beledweyne base hit by bomb attack". BBC News. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ "Death toll from Somalia attack that killed lawmaker rises to 15 – state TV". Reuters. 2022-03-24. Archived from the original on 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
- ^ "More than 30 killed in twin attacks in Somalia". news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2023-08-23. Retrieved 2022-03-24.