Mogadishu (Kaab TV) – Somali army guards shot and killed a suicide bomber who attempted to enter General Dhagabadan military camp in Mogadishu late Wednesday, averting what officials described as a potentially large-scale attack.
According to the Somali National Army, the attacker approached the camp’s main gate wearing an explosive vest and tried to blend in with a line of soldiers. Guards became suspicious and opened fire, killing him before he could detonate the device.
Several members of the camp’s security detail sustained injuries during the incident, though the army did not disclose the exact number of wounded or the severity of their injuries.
Army officials said the swift response prevented the bomber from reaching densely populated areas of the base, which houses active troops and serves as one of the country’s primary training centers for new recruits. The command commended the guards for maintaining heightened vigilance amid repeated threats.
General Dhagabadan has long been a high-value target for al-Shabab, which has carried out multiple bombings at or near the facility.
In November 2022, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive at the camp’s front gate, killing at least a dozen people and injuring 11, according to state media.
Witnesses reported that they saw several lifeless bodies, and residents reported hearing multiple smaller explosions following the initial blast.
That attack occurred weeks after another bomber, disguised as a soldier, joined a line of recruits before detonating, killing one soldier and wounding several others.
In June 2021, at least 20 people were killed in a suicide bombing at the camp, and another attack three months later left only the bomber dead after he detonated his device before reaching his intended target.
The camp’s strategic importance has increased following the European Union’s decision in July 2024 to inaugurate new facilities at the site, including modern shooting ranges and multi-purpose training tracks funded through the European Peace Facility, which has allocated €110 million to support the Somali National Army.
Authorities said investigators are reviewing the incident and assessing whether the attacker had accomplices or support networks in the area.