A prominent Somali TV journalist lost his life in a suicide bombing that targeted a restaurant in the capital city.
Abdifatah Moalim Nur, known by his alias Qeys, was an esteemed journalist working for Somali Cable Television.
The blast occurred at the Blue Sky restaurant, located in close proximity to the presidential palace and national museum, leaving Qeys dead and four others injured.
Authorities confirmed that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber who detonated himself outside the restaurant.
The police released a statement expressing their condolences and disclosing the number of casualties and injuries resulting from the attack.
The loss of Qeys and the injuries sustained by innocent people further highlight the gravity of this tragic incident.
Information Minister Daud Aweis swiftly condemned the attack, denouncing it as a “cowardly terrorist suicide attack.”
Qeys was widely recognized as a staunch advocate of press freedom. The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), a local media watchdog, revealed that he had faced threats in the past due to his dedication to reporting the truth.
The Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) also condemned the killing of Qeys, labeling it a “senseless and brutal” act.
Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by the al-Shabab militant group, known for its involvement in numerous acts of violence in Somalia.
The group has consistently targeted journalists, civilians, and government institutions in a bid to destabilize the country and impose its extremist ideology.
