Four Killed in Somaliland Bomb Explosion

Al-Shabaab - Desperate for Control

Four policemen have been killed when a bomb hidden near a mosque exploded in Somalia’s northern breakaway enclave of Somaliland . There has been relative stability in the region compared with southern regions of the the Somali state. Al-Shabaab, who are known to be Al-Qaeda’s proxy in the region has control of large amounts of territory. The rebel group is intent on extending its influence to the north with brutal determination to destabilise Somaliland and the neighbouring region of Puntland.

No one has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack, but police sources say the device had been hidden among milk cans left near the Grand Mosque, and it detonated as the cans were being inspected. There are also reports that two policemen were severely wounded. In separate incidents in the area, gunmen ambushed and killed a senior police officer as he returned home from evening prayers, and a woman was killed by an explosion near Las Anod’s hospital on Sunday.

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