BOSASO (Kaab TV) – Bosaso police shot and killed a man on Friday, identified as a foreign bomb maker, during an alleged attempt to plant an improvised explosive device (IED) in the city center of Puntland’s port town.
According to Bari Police Commissioner Abdukadir Jama Dirir, officers uncovered a house storing explosives and other terror-related materials during an overnight raid in Bosaso.
The raid followed an investigation linked to the Friday night explosion.
The deceased suspect, yet to be formally identified, had reportedly been living in Bosaso while disguising himself as a street vendor and occasionally posing as a beggar to gain local support.
Police also arrested a second man suspected of planting the IED after he was found with injuries sustained during the device’s explosion.
The IED detonated at a street corner but caused no casualties.
Following the #Puntland government’s decision to ban foreigners from working in Puntland due to security concerns, residents gathered in Garowe today to demand the removal of foreigners from the region.
The demonstrators supported the government’s decision, citing a recent… pic.twitter.com/5L2VarXuHz
— Kaab TV Breaking News (@KaabTV_Breaking) January 26, 2025
Commissioner Dirir reported that investigations led officers to the suspect’s residence, where they confiscated hand grenades, IEDs, and mobile phones used for terror activities.
This development comes as Puntland continues its major counter-terrorism operation targeting Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Bari’s mountainous region.
Since launching the operation, regional security forces have reclaimed territory and killed dozens of militants.
In a sweeping crackdown over the weekend, Bosaso police arrested more than a dozen suspects, including foreign nationals and 70 locals accused of collaborating with the militants, police confirmed.
Bosaso, like other cities in Puntland, hosts a significant number of Ethiopian refugees, many of them ethnic Oromo who fled conflict and hardship in their home country.
Meanwhile, following the Puntland government’s decision to ban foreigners from working in the region due to security concerns, residents gathered in Garowe today to demand the removal of foreigners.
#Puntland Issues Decision To Control the “Threats Posed by Foreign Nationals”
The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Democratization of #Puntland State, in consideration of public safety and security, has issued the following directives:
– Due to the ongoing security… pic.twitter.com/1tfPThuu4S
— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) January 25, 2025
The demonstrators expressed their support for the government’s decision, pointing to the recent incident in Bosaso where a foreign man was killed while allegedly planting a bomb in the city.
The Puntland Ministry of Interior issued new directives to counter security threats posed by illegal foreign entrants.
The directives prohibit unauthorized foreign nationals from entering Puntland and ban begging using written papers in public places, such as mosques, streets, and business areas.
Telecommunication companies were ordered to refrain from issuing phone lines to foreign nationals lacking valid identification and recognized guarantors.
Existing phone numbers used for begging activities are to be deactivated immediately.
Effective January 25, 2025, the directive prohibits anyone residing unlawfully in Puntland from renting housing, obtaining phone lines, or seeking employment.
Individuals facilitating these activities will be prosecuted as accomplices in criminal offenses. Furthermore, unregistered small businesses operating in markets are now banned.