| May 2010 Mogadishu bombings | |
|---|---|
 Bakaara Market, the site of the bombings, taken sometime before 2008 | |
 Interactive map of May 2010 Mogadishu bombings | |
| Location | Mogadishu, Somalia |
| Date | 1 May 2010 13:00 (UTC+3) |
| Target | Abdala Shideye Mosque |
Attack type | Bombings |
| Deaths | 39[1] |
| Injured | 70 |
| Perpetrators | Unknown |
TheMay 2010 Mogadishu bombings were an attack at a mosque near theBakaara market inMogadishu, the capital ofSomalia, on1 May 2010. The bombs killed at least 39[1] people and injured around 70 others.[2]
Somalia, which has not had a functional central government since the 1991 deposing of PresidentSiad Barre, is controlled by several different factions.[3] The area of the capital where the bombings occurred, including the mosque and theBakaara Market, was under the control ofal-Shabaab, a militant organisation that was engaged in a struggle against the provisionalTransitional Federal Government.[4][5]
The bombings occurred around1 pm local time (10:00 UTC).[4] The bombs were placed at opposite ends of the ground floor of the Abdala Shideye Mosque as people were awaiting theDhuhr midday prayers.[6] It is believed thatFuad Mohamed Qalaf, an upper-level official within al-Shabaab, was the intended target of the attacks.[7] Qalaf was reported to have suffered only minor injuries to his hands.[8]
The attack was the deadliest in Mogadishu since theHotel Shambo bombing in December 2009.[9] Information MinisterDahir Mohamud Gelle said it was the first such attack in a mosque in Somalia.[10]
Ambassador Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra, representing theAfrican Union, said "Indiscriminate attacks on public places like today's incident cannot be condoned. I, on behalf of the African Union, would like to call upon all warring parties in the Somali Conflict to stop such barbaric attacks on innocent civilian population."[4]
While al-Shabaab has accused private Western security firms, no group has claimed any kind of responsibility for the bombings.[10]
2°02′00″N45°21′00″E / 2.0333°N 45.3500°E /2.0333; 45.3500
