MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – At least two people were killed and four others wounded on Saturday when a vehicle exploded at the airstrip in the southern Somalia coastal town of Barawe, some 200 km south of the capital Mogadishu, Caasimada Online news website reported.
The blast was triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) attached to a Toyota NOAH van, which detonated shortly after the vehicle arrived at the airport’s parking area, according to security sources.
The vehicle, reportedly owned by a local businessman, had made routine visits to the airstrip to transport Miraa (Khat) shipments flown in from Kenya. The explosion occurred moments after it arrived to collect a consignment.
The explosion disrupted all airport operations, and an investigation is under way.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the Islamist militant group Al Shabaab, which has waged a prolonged insurgency in the region and maintains an active presence in the surroundings of the town, is suspected of involvement. The group frequently targets government facilities and logistical hubs.
The airstrip, which serves as a key supply point for both civilian and military operations in the Lower Shabelle region, was temporarily shut following the incident.
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