Somali leaders, the United Nations and civil society groups in Somalia have strongly condemned the Thursday evening suicide bombings in a restaurant in Mogadishu where over 15 people including journalists were killed and several other people injured

VOD’s director, Abdirahman Yasin, SNTV’s head of programmes, Abdisatar Dahir Sabriye and news editor, Liban Ali Nur were among the people killed in the attack.

Federal republic of Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned the attack and sent his condolences to the Somali public for the loss of innocent lives of their fellow compatriots.

Outgoing Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali also condemned the attacked and blamed the Al-Shabaab group for being behind the attack, promising to completely end such attacks in the country.

Interior Minister, Abdisamed Moalim Mohamud, his defence counterpart Hussein Arab Isse and Benadir governor Mohamud Ahmed Noor also added their voice in condemning the attacks at Village Café.

The United Nations was not left behind in condemning the heinous attacks targeting civilians. The UN special representative for Somalia Augustine Mahiga termed the attack as “madness”, saying that such attacks will not derail gains recently achieved by the Somali people.

Galgadud regional governor Ahmed Hassan Yussuf also condemned the attack calling it “massacre”.

Director of Radio Kulmiye, Osman Abdullahi Gure said the attack was something new to the Somali people as it is the first suicide bombing targeting journalists.

In solidarity with other Somali media, Bar-kulan condemns this heinous attack against innocent civilians including journalists and sends condolences to the families and friends of the victims and all the Somali people.