The bombing in Mogadishu has been described as "Somalia’s 9/11,” and just like the United States’ worst single-day terrorist attack, Saturday’s tragedy is being felt far and wide.

Like similar shows of solidarity elsewhere in Minnesota, South Central College organized a vigil for students and staff still processing the bombing Tuesday.

A couple of dozen showed up to pray and light candles for the deceased. Several people came forward to speak about their family members or friends who died in the attack.

Yahye Mohamud, a student at the college, said he came home from work over the weekend to find his mother crying. She informed him his uncle, Abdinasir Abdulahi, had been killed in the explosion. Mohamud’s aunt is one of the hundreds more who were hurt in the attack. Last he heard, she remains in the hospital.

"My mom knew him well,” Mohamud said of his uncle. "What hurts me is when I see my mom cry.”

While speaking at the vigil, he condemned the bombing as a cowardly, foolish act.

"Anyone who has motives for killing innocent people is a coward and cruel,” he said.

Somali officials have blamed the al-Shabab terrorist cell for the incident. The group has taken credit for other bombings and shootings in the region, but Saturday’s incident at one of Mogadishu's busiest thoroughfares was the most deadly terrorist attack the world’s had in years.

American citizens were among those killed. Fanah Adam, an academic adviser at South Central College, said one of his dearest friends and the friend’s wife perished Saturday.

Abukar Mohamed used to live in Virginia before moving back to his homeland to work for Somalia’s government. He and wife, Shadiye Hassan, are survived by seven children, Adam said.

Adam had just returned from morning prayers at his mosque Sunday when another friend called him with the news.

"It felt heartbreaking,” he said. "(Mohamed) was the highest degree of friend, not just a normal friend, but like a brother.”

A Bloomington man was among the first casualties reported with connections to Minnesota, home to the biggest Somali population in the United States. Ahmed Eyow, a married father of three, had just returned to visit family in Somalia when the bombing occurred.

Eyow’s cousin, Abdi Iyow, a student at South Central College, briefly spoke during the vigil. He said he drove up to the Twin Cities area to be with family Sunday.

"It’s tragic to be honest with you,” he said. "He left here to see his mom and help the Somali community over there.”

Abdi Sabrie, an adviser at South Central College, said the attack hits the Somali community particularly hard, as so many have family or friends in Mogadishu.

"This is a tragedy that really affects any Somali one way or another,” he said. "Either you know or know of someone who was involved.”

Beyond the deaths, he said the bombing is a hard hit to the Somali psyche. The country has been recovering from civil war in recent years, and the bombing to one of the capital city's busiest areas could represent a major setback.

Mohamud, the student whose uncle died in the bombing, said he's confident Somalia will persevere through the attack. A poem echoing that sentiment, titled "I am Somali" was read to conclude the vigil, first in English then in Somali.

Sabrie thanked his fellow South Central College staff for organizing the vigil, while calling on other community members to show solidarity with their Somali brothers and sisters.

"We have to come together as Americans when something happens,” he said. "When tragedy hit France, we are all affected because other human beings, brothers and sisters were senselessly killed. This is no different.”

Source-www.mankatofreepress.com