Mogadishu Market Bombing Kills at Least Eight

At least eight people were killed and 19 others injured after a series of bombings in the main Bakara market in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Tuesday, security sources said.

Business leaders in the market said the explosions targeted a chain of shops that sell electronics in the market.

“Wholesale electronic stores in the market, about six main stores, were hit by the explosion,” the head of the market’s business community, Hassan Abdi Ahmed, told VOA Somali.

Ahmed said a blast in one store killed two employees. A VOA reporter said other workers and customers in the market were among the deceased.

Authorities in Mogadishu said the explosions were caused by devices planted in the stores.

“There is an investigation ongoing, security agencies are busy working on it and will update later,” said Mohamed Ahmed Diriye, the deputy mayor of Mogadishu for security and policy.

Authorities did not disclose the motive of the attacks against the businesses, but a security officer who did not want to be named because he is not allowed to speak to the media, told VOA Somali that the attacks are related to the installation of CCTV cameras by the businesses.

Last year, Somalia’s security agencies urged the businesses to install security cameras.

Some of the store owners said they later received anonymous calls from people claiming to be from al-Shabab, who warned them against the installations.

The militants reportedly feared the cameras would help security branches identify al-Shabab members.

Somali security agencies have recorded incidents of al-Shabab militants intimidating businesses as part of an extortion campaign.

The United States has reported that al-Shabab generates an estimated $100 million annually that is collected through illicit taxations, mandatory donations and extortions.

The Somali government last year claimed al-Shabab’s revenues have been cut in half following the implementation of security measures, including the shutting down of suspected bank and mobile money accounts, and targeting militants taxation officials.